I’m almost done with a Limbert two door bookcase and my last step is installing the glass into the doors. I’ve never bought glass before and I know there are a few different types. I’d like to get the best glass I can, possibly the type that looks like the old glass, wavy and such since it is an arts and crafts piece. Can anyone share what they know about glass and give any suggestions as to what to look for?
Jeffrey
Replies
You can get what is called "Reamy glass" which is blown in a cylinder and cut, flattened and cooled. It has the somewhat wavy look and occasional bubbles that the old "float glass" has. I think you can get it from art-glass suppliers, but I have no specific recommendations.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I have used hand blown glass, so called restoration glass, and antique glass in my period reproductions. The hand blown glass is excellent for my work, but I think glass making had come a long way by the Arts & Craft period, so you would be better off with the restoration glass, since the hand blown glass is very wavy and full of seeds and bubbles. One of my local glass shops, keeps old glass from their window replacement jobs, so you might check in your area for something similar. I have used both single and double strength glass, but I saw no difference. I believe the restoration glass comes in only the double strength. Below are the address for where I got my glass
Curran Glass (Also named Affinity Art Glass) , address is: 809 South Oak Park Ave. Oak Park IL 60304 Phone number is (708) 848-8620
I believe they have the restoration glass as well as the hand blown. When I ordered from them, I sent them templates and they cut the glass for me. The cost was not cheap running about $20 per small pane.
I purchased restoration glass from Van Dyke’s Restorers. They have a web site at http://www.vandykes.com . This was nice glass, but the waiting period was nearly 2 months. Also, the glass was not cut to size, so I had to take it to my local glass shop to have it cut, which added to the already high price
( $550 for the glass $100 to get it cut, for 3 doors on a small breakfront)
Even though the cost is high, the results were worth it, but then I wasn’t paying my customer was.
You might try a shop that makes stained glass items. They usually have "old" glass--glass that looks old. And some salvage places may have old glass.Gretchen
Take a look at http://www.bendheim.com. They sell full and light restoration glass and have provided glass for some major projects, eg The White House. They also sell a sample kit.
Bill
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