The Romans were the first to make leaded windows. In their efforts to make window glass, they had troubles making large, flat sheets of glass. The reason for that was because of the technique they used. In those days the glassblower swung round a hot glass bubble that ultimately formed small and irregular-shaped sheets of glass. To make larger window-panes, the Romans simply connected the sheets of glass with pieces of lead.


The oldest window-panes date from 1000 AD. These were stained-glass windows formed by colourful pieces of glass that depicted religious scenes. They were used in Roman and Gothic churches to tell biblical stories to the illiterate. In the Renaissance the technique came to a height when guilds were founded that were specialised in the art of making leaded windows. In Holland, one can still find the window-panes that were created in the Renaissance, for example in the St John’s church in Gouda.

Until the late 30’s, leaded windows were highly popular in Holland. The style varied from Jugendstil to Amsterdam school, but also merely abstract and simple designs were used. In Rotterdam and in the villages in the province of West-Friesland, many of the transom windows were leaded windows. During the 70’s many of these windows were removed because then the interior design had to be spacious and light.

Fortunately, nowadays the art of leaded window is revaluated!
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