Kay Bain Weiner / Paperback / Published 1994
The Tiffany copper foil technique for stained glass yields a stronger product and allows for more
complicated designs than the traditional lead. Designed as a complete course on this popular
technique, Stained Glass combines solid background information--on tools and supplies, cutting
methods, definition of terms, soldering--with numerous projects, and rounds out the appealing
presentation with color photos of beautiful creations by various stained-glass artists. The
step-by-step projects include mirrors, lamps, boxes, clocks, and jewelry, all accompanied by
patterns.
An Okay Book for Beginners but Little Detail
Reviewer: A reader from Columbus, GA February 1, 1998
I was a bit disappointed upon reading "Stained Glass : A Guide to Today's Tiffany Copper Foil
Technique". As a beginner in stained glass who had already exhausted every book in our local
library and had already created one project with great success, I found the book to be a bit sparse
on details. I purchased the book because I wanted to hone my skills and learn why I was having
minor problems with my project (i.e. true tricks of the trade). I had ordered this thinking I would
get a more definitive text on the copper foil method. However, this book doesn't fit the bill. Simply
put, it is a good introduction to the craft but nothing more than that. The book tries to be three
things and, in many ways, fails at all three. First, it tries to be a glossy coffee-table text -- but the
photos focus more on the authors work than on contemporary or historic stained glass pieces. In
fact, Tiffany and LaFarage, the fathers of this method, are barely even discussed or presented. A
few examples from the masters would have at least been inspiration; a discussion of their methods
would have been divine. Second, this book tries to be a beginner's introduction to this craft.
However, there is not enough detail presented to sway the beginner from many common pitfalls.
For example, copper foil has an adhesive backing that holds it to the glass. Dirty glass will cause it
to fall off and the piece will eventually fall apart. There is very little discussion of the importance of
cleaning glass prior to assembly in the text -- something a beginner may not think of. Other skills
such as glasscutting, grinding, and leading are discussed but definitely not in enough detail to
answer many of the questions a new hobbyist would encounter. Finally, this book is a project
book. Frankly, I found the projects to be a bit dated as if they came from the 1970's. And, the
focus on these projects takes away from the truly important portion of the text that teaches about
the craft. Overall, this book is simply an introduction to basic skills -- but doesn't detail these skills
-- filled with photos of the author's and select friends works that in some cases are truly exquisite,
but do not represent the true depth of the craft. Overall, it is an average text.