23.—DIAPHANIE, OR STAINED GLASS.
This simple, but really beautiful invention, can easily be acquired by carefully reading the following directions, and by practice, the effect of gorgeous stained glass can be given to common window glass, with moderate expense. The materials required are plates of clear glass, free from specks or bubbles, designs, groundings, and borderings which are printed expressly for the purpose, and in transparent colors; a roller which is employed to press the paper closely on the glass, so as to remove the bubbles of air; transfer varnish, to fasten the prints upon the glass; clearing liquid, which is used after the paper has been removed, to render the work transparent and brilliant; the washable varnish, which protects the designs from damps, and renders them capable of being cleaned; and three camel’s hair brushes to apply the varnish, &c. There are three hundred sheets of designs published for this work, consisting of subjects, borderings, and groundings.
A window generally consists of parts of several sheets, as it should contain a medallion or subject, a border, and the whole of the remaining space filled up with grounding paper. Among some of the best subjects, we may mention “The Virgin and Child.” “The four Evangelists with architectural niches.” “The Adoration of the Magi, with architectural borders.” “St. Peter and St. Paul.” “The Annunciation.” “St. John the Baptist.” “St. Joseph.” “Mater Admirabilis.” “Adoration of the Magi.” “Boar hunt.” “Deer reposing.” “Two marine views.” “The Laborer’s Return.” “Winter scenes,” &c. For these suitable groundings and borderings must be selected according to the taste of the worker, who must, however, remember that the beauty of the work depends upon perfect harmony in coloring and design.
The materials being all collected, thoroughly cleanse and dry your sheet of glass, and lay it flat upon a folded cloth. Then cut out the medallion, or subject (unless the paper is to be applied in one piece), and fasten it to the glass by thoroughly damping it on the wrong side with a wet sponge, giving it a plentiful coating of transfer varnish on the printed side, laying it face downwards upon the glass, and firmly pressing it down with the roller, commencing at the centre, and gradually passing over the edges.
The border must be the next fixed. Then damp the printed side of the grounding paper, and lay it over; raise one end of the glass, so that the light passing through will enable you to see the position of the subject and border. Trace round them carefully with a pencil, remove the grounding paper, and cut it out a little within the line, so that the ground may slightly overlap the subject; give the coating of varnish, and apply it to the glass, as before described, pressing it down with the roller, so that no blisters are to be seen.
Take care to keep the back of the papers damp during this operation, and when it is finished wash them over with the sponge and water. It is well to interpose a piece of damp paper between the roller and the design, as this prevents the varnish adhering to it. The work now requires to be left for four-and-twenty hours, so that the varnish may become dry and hard; it is then ready for the next operation—rubbing off the paper. This is done by wetting and rubbing in a circular direction, with a sponge or the hand.
After this the work again must be allowed to dry; after which rub it with the hand so as to remove all loose particles, and give it a coating of the clearing liquid, which should be laid on with a flat brush. After again remaining for a day to harden, the washable varnish is applied, and the work is completed.
If these directions are carefully followed, a perfect transparency will be produced, which it will require an experienced eye to detect from real stained glass.
Transparencies in thin silk or muslin can be made by tightly stretching the material on to a frame. The designs are then subjected to two coatings of the clearing liquid applied on the wrong side, and when dry, one of the transfer varnish to the colored side. This is then well pressed down by the roller. When quite dry, if the picture appear at all cloudy, it will be necessary to apply the clearing liquid again, then varnish, and the transparency is finished. Be careful, however, not to remove the work from the frame until perfectly dry. This work is especially adapted for hall windows, by the side of the front door, or in the door.
We have seen beautiful specimens of this work done by a twelve-year-old miss.