Types/Styles of Stained Glass

The style of design, subject matter, and methods of creating stained glass are as varied as the colors filling the panes of glass themselves. Their aesthetic beauty should provide a serene background for prayerful reflection and render the soul more disposed to contemplation of the divine.

Following are window images and descriptions broken into five broad categories: Traditional Painted, Stenciled/Patterned, Contemporary/Modern, Tiffany Style, and Faceted. These are meant only as starting points for your first conversations about the style of glass which might best fit your needs. These examples offer a glimpse of the options available when envisioning your new stained glass project. Variations are infinite, and creativity is limited only by your imagination.

Traditional painted stained glass is often heavily painted, conveying biblical scenes from the life of Christ and complimenting more classically-styled architecture. King Richard’s inventory offers a wide variety of antique handcrafted stained glass artifacts recovered from religious sites which can be customized to meet your needs. We also offer the opportunity to work with our network of artisans who can design and craft a custom series of traditional stained glass windows.

Patterned (simple stenciled) stained glass is designed with repeating shapes, sizes and colors that present symmetry in multiple windows and allows for a lower cost of production. They can add a cohesive and structured element to your church design.

Contemporary/Modern stained glass is often less painted, using larger bold-colored glass and is more abstract in design. These windows complement airy, modern structures with their clean lines and sleek design.

Tiffany-styled stained glass often contains intricately cut opaque or opalescent glass, overlaid with wide varieties in thickness. Frequently incorporating natural scenery elements into their work, they are a warm and inviting choice.

Faceted glass or dalle de verre employs thick slabs of colored glass, set into epoxy rather than lead cames. Its appearance often is reminiscent of mosaic, but the glass glows with light-filled color. They are a unique choice for a single statement window or for a set of related subject matter windows.

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