If you have a historical commercial building or home, replacing the glass with something that looks modern can ruin the looks of the building. Also, some neighborhoods and districts require that any renovations be done to reflect the construction era. The problem is that antique glass is fragile, but now, you have some new options that are the perfect solution for your historical glass replacement.
The Beauty of Antique Glass
Much of the antique glass found in historical buildings was made by first hand-blowing it into a cylinder. The glass was then annealed to make it stronger. The cylinder was then scored, separated, reheated, and folded out to make a sheet. This process resulted in the striations, waves, and a rougher surface appearance that gave old glass windows their charm.
Now, glass is made that has the waves and imperfections you expect from antique glass. They are either applied mechanically when the glass is being formed, or they are inscribed into it when the glass is cool. Imitation Baroque glass is created by combining two glasses of mismatched composition. This creates the artistic swirls that are recognizable in many older buildings.
Another beautiful type of antique glass is beveled glass that has a prismatic effect when the light shines through. They are often used in shapes like stained glass, but they are clear. You can get modern renditions of these old masterpieces in a variety of sizes, shapes, and patterns. You can still have the elegance you expect and do not have to part with your favorite decorative window.
Modern Antique-look Glass
When you look at antique glass, one of the things that makes it stand out is that it looks different when viewed from various angles. It is not perfectly smooth like modern glass. If you replace your windows using modern glass, it will stand out and can ruin the aesthetics of the building.
Antique glass is beautiful to look at, but unfortunately, it does not always meet modern building code standards for shatter and weather resistance. Now, some manufacturers are making glass that complies with modern building codes and standards, but that has the imperfections and waves that you expect from historical glass. This is an excellent solution to replacement glass that has an authentic historical look, but that also meets modern safety standards.
Vern’s Glass is ready to help with historical glass replacement in your building, home, or antique furniture. Give us a call for a quote.
