Stained glass windows

Social Studies Review, Fall 2002

Inserting pieces of stained glass at different angles and in precise geometric designs is an ancient craft of the Arabs.

The making of glass is a very old art. The glass of the Phoenicians, Palestinians and Egyptians, dull green and opaque, is the oldest glass in the world.

It was these stained glass windows of the Arab lands that inspired European artisans to create the beautiful windows of Gothic cathedrals. But unlike the leaded stained glass of Europe, Arab artisans had set their pieces of glass into delicately carved filigreed stucco.

In making the beautiful patterned windows even today, Arab craftsmen follow very old techniques. They pour wet stucco into a frame, draw a pattern in the stucco as it sets, cut out the pattern with fine saws and thin files and glue bits of glass to the inside of the stucco pattern.

Called qamariyas ("moon-like") and shamsiyas ("sun-like"), these brilliantly colored windows of geometric or arabesque designs can be compared with the mashrabiyas (the delicate wooden screens which filter sunlight but admit air).

Wouldn't you like to create a stained glass window using one of the geometric or calligraphic designs included here, or creating your own? Here are some directions.

Materials:

Clear Plexi-Glass 8" X 10" (or whatever size you decide upon). Non-glare glass for pictures (available at many paint and framing shops) is a good material to use. If your school district replaces broken windows with plexi-glass, see if the school district "yard" doesn't have a bin of discarded leftover pieces.

White Glue

Food Colorin2 in various colors. Toothpicks

Small shallow dishes or large jar lids, for mixing of white glue and colors. You'll need as many as the number of colors you decide to use.

Directions:

1. Decide upon a geometric or calligraphy design outline. Choose one from this book, or create your own.

2. Place your piece of clear plexi-glass over your design so that the design shows through.

3. Decide what pattern in the design you will bring out by coloring. On the paper design pattern you have had underneath, color the design, as you want it to be on the finished stained glass (or just use abbreviations to "color code" that design), and place this paper pattern back under the plexi-glass.

4. Using the toothpicks, mix white glue and food colors in whatever colors you have decided to use in your design.

5. Put a dab of colored glue in one space carefully spreading it around the space with your small paintbrush. (The glue becomes more transparent as it dries.)

6. Go on to another space. Continue until the entire design onyour glass is colored in. (It is not necessary to "outline" the design on the glass. The design is under the glass and colors can be applied right up next to each other on the glass itself.)

Be certain to keep it flat while drying, so that the glue does not run.

When thoroughly dry, your stained glass window, or SHAMSIYA, is ready to be propped in a window for a beautiful display of sunlight and color.

Source: The Arabs: Activities for the Elementary and Middle School Level. 1997. Published by AWAIR (Arab World and Islamic Resources and School Services). To order directly from the publisher contact AWAIR at: 2137 Rose Street, Berkeley, CA 94709