Stained glass

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Q: How can we tell which is old and which is more recent glass?

A stained-glass window consists of pieces of coloured glass held together by lead strips.

Before being assembled, the glass has part of the picture painted on it. It is then heated, or fired, to seal the paint to the glass.

Early coloured glass was painted with black or brown paint (stain). In the 14th century yellow stain was discovered, which turned white glass yellow or blue glass green.