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Generally associated with religious architecture, stained glass windows are present in decorative design all over the world. In the Western world, the tradition of the first stained glass windows goes back to the 4th and 5th centuries in Europe. The most impressive cathedrals that stand as vestiges of the old ages have some of the most exquisite stained glass windows ever; they are the result of strenuous efforts of skilled artisans, who combined artwork with engineering knowledge. From a structural point of view, stained glass windows are made of glass pieces assembled together by lead strips supported by the rigid frames. The design of the stained glass windows is pretty varied nowadays, though in the past it mainly relied on Bible motifs and representations of the scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. Saints, patrons, stylized episodes from their lives and inspirational elements are usually included in the pattern creation of the stained glass windows. They used to be included in the design of official buildings, colleges and other official institutions since the non-figurative representations were just as popular as the figurative ones. The popularity of the stained glass windows actually began in the 10th century when glass factories also flourished. In the manufacturing process of stained glass windows all sorts of metallic oxides where used for the proper creation of the color shades; thus from copper oxides, green was extracted, cobalt oxides were used for blue whereas precious minerals like gold served for the creation of red. Presently, many of these techniques have been preserved in the manufacturing of stained glass windows, but scientific development has allowed for an improvement and a high variation in the manufacturing of stained glass windows. Modern ingredients prove just as effective as the old ones, with the only mention that they are cheaper and easier to include in the procedure. For all stained glass windows the materials need to be cut and sized correctly so as to fit perfectly in the edges or the section template. The paint used for the creation of stained glass windows is also special, thus it needs a mixture of ingredients that would ensure proper adherence to the surface. Lead ground like a powder, ground glass and an acid medium are usually included in the composition of this paint. Once the painting is ready, the glass pieces are fitted in their places so as to make the general design of the stained glass windows. The nature and the size of the glass are very important for the technique and the overall visual effect. Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Stained Glass for Years. For More Information on Stained glass windows, Visit His Site at STAINED GLASS WINDOWSI Will Also Highly Appreciate Your Views On Stained glass windows At My Blog here Stained Glass Windows
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