Something is within these old and stained glass windows. They do not simply allow the light to come in, they narrate a story. Colours, the patterns, the crafts all suggest the era when windows were not merely utilitarian objects; they were aesthetic objects. Yet with time passing years these treasures tend to age. This results in cracks and the lead that glues them becomes weak and at other times the glass loses its gloss.
Restoration is not merely repairing something that was broken or damaged, but rescuing a life that cannot be recreated. The best restorer will often begin by carefully removing the panel, cleaning it bit by bit and rebinding any cracks or loose joints. When a piece of glass has deteriorated too much, they will substitute it with one as similar as possible to the original, in order to make the design seem natural.
The difference becomes quite remarkable once it has been restored. The light passing through a new clean stained glass window will be warmer, richer, almost as if the room itself is warm. It is not only decoration, but rather atmosphere. The pride with which the original curer must have created it to bring beauty to a room generations later is unimaginable.
Today, a lot of homeowners will put a protective layer of glazing on the outside after they have restored their organs of stained glass. It prevents the weather to bring it down once again too soon and allows those colors and shapes to be enjoyed decades further.
It is not an ordinary repairing task but one of the means of preserving history and ensuring that the art continues to be displayed in your house.