A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
S.A: Semi-antique glass. Machine-drawn transparent glass made to imitate the look of antique glass. Also called D.A., S.A., G.N.A., F.N.A. and New antique.
Saddle Bar: A metal bar attached to the inside of a stained glass panel and secured to the window jambs to prevent bulging or sagging, or secondary structural elements set into the window frame and attached to the window panels by solder and copper wires to provide additional bracing and support.
Sal Ammoniac Block: Also called a tinning block. It is used to clean carbon build up from soldering iron tips.
Sanctuary: The area of the church where the altar is located.
Sand: The most common form of silica used in making glass. It is collected from the seashore or, preferably, from deposits that have fewer impurities. For most present-day glassmaking, sand must have a low iron content. Before being used in a batch, it is thoroughly washed, heated to remove carbonaceous matter, and screened to obtain uniformly small grains.
Sandblasting: The technique of blowing abrasive materials under pressure onto the glass surface to etch away part of the glass.
Sand Carving: Abrasive etching done deeper and in layers, creating a sculptural effect.
Sash: The window frame.
Sconce: A modified lantern, usually protruding from a wall rather than hanging or sitting on a base.
Score: The line made by a glass cutter or diamond upon the surface of a piece of glass. It is a facture line penetrating the outermost surface and weakening the glass along its length so that it can be broken in a controlled pattern or direction.
Scribe: (1) Instrument used to incise a line in dalle-de-verre, usually a steel wheel. (2) Sharp steel, carbide, or diamond point used to mark on glass. (3) A pointed instrument for marking a line on wood, stone, brick, etc. to show where it is to be cut.
Scythe Stone: Stone used to smooth sharp or slightly rough edges of glass.
Seeds: Minute bubbles of gas, usually occurring in groups.
Seedy Glass: Glass that has minute bubbles of gas, seeds in it.
Semi Antique Glass: Machine-drawn transparent glass made to imitate the look of antique glass. Also called D.A., S.A., G.N.A., F.N.A. and New antique.
Shelf Paper: A product used in kiln firing to prevent glass from sticking to a surface. Also used to create a dimensional surface for forming glass shapes on.
Shelf Wash: A solution applied to surfaces to prevent glass from sticking when being fired in a kiln.
Shims: Any block used as spacer when installing a window, door.
Shuttering: Wooden sides to cast concrete or epoxy molds.
Silica (Si02): Silicon dioxide, a mixture that is the main ingredient of glass. The most common form of silica used in glassmaking has always been sand.
Silkscreening: A printing method of applying paint to glass where the paint is forced through a fine mesh (screen) overlying a stencil. Paint is deposited in the open areas of the stencil.
Silver Jewelry Clay: A highly moldable silver based clay that is then fired create jewelry items
Silver Stain: A mixture containing silver salts, which, when fired on glass, sinks into the glass, causing a permanent color ranging from pale yellow to amber.
Single Glazed: A single thickness of glass in a window.
Single Hung: A window with a stationary top and a moveable bottom half.
Single Strength Window Glass: Glass that is made 1/16" thick.
Size: In glass working it generally is applied to several glutinous materials, such as glue and resin, used to affix color or gold leaf.
Sketch: The original idea for a work with all is variations, permutations, and reworks until a finial design comes forth.
Skirt: The bottom portion or layers of a panel type lamp shade.
Slab Glass: Transparent stained glass cast one inch thick. Also called Dales
Smalti: Opaque glass cut into irregular rectangular chunks and most often used in mosaic work.
Soda or Sodium Carbonate: Soda (or alternatively potash) is commonly used as the alkali ingredient of glass. It serves as a flux to reduce the fusion point of the silica when the batch is melted.
Soft Glass: Term often in flameworking or kiln worked glass. Soft glasses melt at a lower temperature and can be worked on for a longer time.
Solder: (1) The mixture of metals, most often tin and lead, used to hold copper foil and leaded glass works together. Common mixtures are (tin% / Lead %) 60/40 and 50/50. (2) The assembly process, the act of applying solder to the foiled glass pieces or lead came and create a unified stained glass piece.
Soldering Iron: Tool
used to melt and apply the solder to a stained glass during assembly. Generally irons used for
stained glass are a minimum of 100 watts and use a chisel type tip.
South Side: The south or right side of a church is traditionally the side of Light and the New Testament, which is often reflected in the subject matter and colors of these windows. It is not necessarily compass south.
Spatula: Flexible knife for mixing paint.
Spring Line: The horizontal line below which the upright sides end and the curve of the arch begins as in a door or window..
Stangenglas (German, "pole glass"): A tall, narrow, cylindrical drinking vessel (hence the name "pole glass"), usually with a pedestal foot.
Stationary Stop: The permanent stop or lip of the window sash that holds the panel in place.
Stippling: (1) The technique of tapping the surface of a glass object with a pointed tool, often with a diamond or tungsten-carbide tip. Each tap produces a mark, and the decoration is composed of many hundreds or thousands of marks. (2) On lacy-pattern pressed glass, the stippling is part of the decoration of the mold.
Stop: Wood or metal flange used to hold a window in place.
Straight Edge: Straight piece of metal or plastic with a perfectly milled, unmarked edge. It is used to draw absolutely accurate line and some times means a ruler.
Strapping: Decorative filigree or lead came that has been flattened, used to hide a seam without obstructing the general design.
Streaky: Having a color or colors unevenly distributed in sheet glass to form streaks or swirls.
Strength of Glass: Refers to the thickness of glass, i.e., single or double strength.
Striations: Marks on antique and some machine made replicas. They look like polished scratches and make the glass look more brilliant and crystalline like.
Stringers: Thin spaghetti like threads of glass pulled from a melted glass. Often used in fusing, flameworking, and glass blowing.
Support Bars: Iron bars tied to the leaded panel by copper wire for reinforcing.
The sources for this material include:
•Glass: A Pocket Dictionary of Terms Commonly Used to Describe Glass and Glassmaking.
Compiled by David Whitehouse, 88 pp., 47 illus., 1993
•How to Work in Stained Glass. Anita & Seymour Isenberg, 247 pp., 1972
•Stained Glass Lamps. Anita & Seymour Isenberg, 222 pp., 1972
•The Techniques of Stained Glass. Partrick Reyntiens, 168 pp. 1977
•The Coming Museum Website: www.cmog.org
• The Stained Glass Association of America Website: www.stainedglass.org
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