Stained Glass Preservation Standards

Preservation Standards: There are several that Cranberry follows. Almost all of them are provided by the Stained Glass Association of America…but just to highlight a few.

• Make every attempt to use all the original material in the stained glass piece so long as it does not hinder the desired outcome of the project.
• Employ methods that are considered reversible to the best of the current knowledge, and methods that will not hinder future examination, treatment or function.
• Employ techniques and materials to minimize adverse effects on the health and well being of coworkers, the general public and the environment.
• Document everything and take lots of pictures.

No matter what the budget, these standards are always followed.

Cranberry (Lori Nason) has been, an affiliate member of the Stained Glass Association of America since 2005.

This is so true! Everyone wake up and smell the coffee

This is a very interesting video and IS possibly the most honest explanation I have ever heard. It hits a nerve and after answering the question, provides a suggestion of how things could be in the future. !!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16K6m3Ua2nw

Is it Conservation or Restoration?

Levels of Intervention…Be Careful With the Terms!

As mentioned in an earlier Blog, the primary goal of conservation professionals, stained glass restorers, conservators and consultants, is the preservation of cultural property. This property may be important and deserving of preservation for its artistic, historic, religious, or social significance.

It appears to be time to investigate if indeed a stained glass installation is in need of work and what exactly is needed.

There are 5 different levels of intervention to which cultural property may be subjected.

Conservation at its finest!

1. Preservation – an act of keeping safe from injury, harm or destruction.

2. Conservation – a careful preservation and protection of something especially a planned management of a natural resource or cultural property to prevent exploitation, destruction or neglect.

3. Restoration – a bringing back to a former or unimpaired condition.

4. Repair – to mend by replacing a part or putting together what is broken.

5. Stop-gap – Something that serves as a temporary expedient.

These terms should not be used interchangeably. Preservation and conservation are quite close in meaning, restoration generally employs a different approach. Also repair and stop-gap are frequently referred to as restoration, when they are clearly are not.

Cranberry can help you or your committee determine what is the best course of action for your stained glass installation.

I am about to embark on a whole new endeavor. I am going to do a series of bloggs on Restoration, Conservation and Repair of Stained Glass.

Did you know that more people view stained glass than people view great works of art in a gallery? Just think about that for a minute...Pretty cool eh?

Cranberry Stained Glass Studio & Supply Inc (Cranberry) is focused on preservation of all stained glass in Atlantic Canada and beyond.

Most of the historic stained glass in this part of the world is located in places of worship, public buildings and private homes. Most of it is approximately between 75 and 125 years old. This is a time when some intervention must occur to keep the installations safe and secure for another 75 to 125 years.

Lead ( the infrastructure matrix the holds the installation together) generally starts to break down and fatigue for a whole host of various reasons, at about 75 year mark.

Cranberry has always has the tag line “Sharing our Passion for Glass”. It is extremely important to us to keep stained glass in the spirit as it was intended by the original artist, to inspire, to open minds, to educate and to beautify.