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Hanging your new piece

Updated: Oct 19, 2024

Please do not hang your piece from a suction cup! Suction cups will ALWAYS fail eventually, given the fact that rubber degrades and weakens over time, especially with the fluctuating temperatures on a window-pane. Always hang from a secure hook or nail above the window, or two nails placed just above each outer edge of the piece. In most cases, just hammer a single nail at a 90 degree angle from the wall or in the top wood sill of a window, or drive a plant hanger or hook into the upper, solid wood frame and hook the chain over the nail or into the hook. If you must use something similar to a suction cup (and only for a very lightweight item), use the plastic adhesive "command strip" style hooks that can be applied directly to the window. They should be removable, but adhere much more strongly to the window.


Always display stained glass indoors. Copper foiled (otherwise known as "Tiffany" style windows) utilize a different assembly technique than leaded windows. Louis Comfort Tiffany developed the technique I use, which is a relatively new method (about 140 years old) involving edging each piece with copper foil tape , which is later coated in solder. This creates a solder-line, that separates each piece while also holding them together snugly. Leaded windows leave room in-between for putty, which makes the panel more insulated and weather-proof. Leading can be installed unglazed on it's own in homes and architecture, but it is not recommended to install Tiffany-style windows permanently into homes where it is exposed to the outdoor elements. It is not good for solder lines to get wet because water will cause separation, discoloration and corrosion over time if left outside. Keeping pieces under covered patios is fine but never leave Tiffany style pieces outside in the rain for prolonged periods.


It is preferred to hang the piece vertically rather than leaning it at an angle up against a wall or on a window sill sash, to prevent the possibility of slumping slightly over time. The piece is comprised of part lead, part tin, which glues all the pieces together. If gravity is allowed to pull down on a piece (especially a large or heavily soldered piece) sitting in a diagonal position, it will be more prone to bow from it's own weight over a long period of time.


Usually purchased panels come with a plain chain that matches the color of the solder and came lines, which is often black. If a more understated profile is desired, another option is a nylon-coated steel cable, secured with crimps at the top two corners of the piece. This is a great way to make the piece feel a bit more like it's floating, and the cable can attach at two points, forming 2 vertical lines to the attachment points, instead of a triangle shape formed by a chain. These thinner vertical lines may be a better fit with certain panel styles, such as a long rectangle-shaped piece, or something more geometric or modern rather than organic or circular. It's perhaps a subjective distinction, but one that some people prefer to proactively decide which look they like better with their piece and what looks best in their home. Please ask if you are unsatisfied with the chain that comes with your piece, often we can figure out other options!







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