What Makes Dalle Stained Glass Unique?

If your Houston home or business has Dalle stained glass in or around it –you probably know it is a different type of stained glass but may not know exactly how. As it turns out, Dalle stained glass is an incredibly unique version of traditional stained glass with some pretty significant differences from the type you see in churches. Below we compare traditional stained glass to Dalle stained glass so you can get an idea about what sets the two apart.

 The Age of the Stained Glass Craft

Dalle Stained Glass: This type of stained glass was invented just after the turn of the century–making it about 100 years old. So, we know a fair bit about how and when it was invented and the early pioneers of this stained glass method.

Traditional Stained Glass: This stained glass art form is incredibly ancient. In fact, some traditional stained glass was made well over 1000 years ago. This means, unlike Dalle stained glass–we don’t have any information on who invented it.

The Thickness of the Stained Glass

Dalle Stained Glass: This type of stained glass is much thicker than traditional stained glass– more than 1” thick. It is produced huge blocks and then sawed or hammered to size. Its name actually translates to “glass slab” in French.

Traditional Stained Glass: This method uses thinner glass piece in its construction. Production glass today is about 1/8″ thick. It is usually created for the final size it will be placed in. It is thin enough to sand and cut with a glass cutter.

Type of Stained Glass Structure

Dalle Stained Glass: Glass shapes in this type of stained glass are held in place by a thick concrete and epoxy frame. This substrate is poured in a framed box of sand where the glass pieces sit in a pre-laid design. This means the glass and the frame are incredibly strong but less detailed.

Traditional Stained Glass: This type of stained glass uses wood frames, sometimes with metal supports, to hold the glass panels in place. The pieces are soldered together. While not delicate–traditional stained glass windows are not nearly as sturdy as Dalle stained glass.

The Stained Glass Restoration Process

Dalle Stained Glass: Because of the concrete and epoxy framing Dalle stained glass is hard to restore. The process involves chipping away the stone frame from the glass and then re-pouring it. This is very time consuming and expensive.

Traditional Stained Glass: Leading on traditional stained glass is fairly simple to remove since the lead caming is soft and can be easily pulled off. While easier to do than chipping cement–there is a fair bit of artistry and care involved with traditional stained glass restoration.

For more information on either of these stained glass artforms and restoration and repair–contact us at Houston Stained Glass today.

Martin Faith

Martin Faith is the founder and owner of Houston Stained Glass. Martin has been cultivating his skills as a stained glass artisan for over 30 years, passing on his knowledge and expertise to his team so that, together, they can create the most beautiful stained glass windows the world has ever seen. Martin's initial education in the trade took place in Glasgow, Scotland, the stained glass capitol of the world. He is an expert in the history of stained glass, its evolution, methods for conservation, and its many different styles and forms, including art deco, prairie, Greene & Greene, art nouveau, Mackintosh, floral, mission, beveled, and contemporary. Over the years, Martin's company has produced thousands of stained glass windows, which includes custom creations made for homes, churches, and commercial buildings located all throughout the Houston metro area.