Glassplating.com© By Barry Z. Masser, Plated Glass Designs® The world's largest selection of plating products

What, exactly, is plating?

And how you can quickly master this very special glass skill

Very simply, plating is a technique that was perfected by L.C.Tiffany back in the late 1890s. Tired of the ordinary look of the boring glass of that time, he began layering in order to create breathtaking realism in his nature windows. Realism like this:

                                                        Sarah Creek Covered Bridge 

                                                                 Click the picture to visit our Pattern Page

By simply soldering one or more pieces of glass over another, you turn an ordinary stained glass composition into a work of art that looks  like a painting. This remarkable layering approach gives you the ability to create shadows, depth, texture and colors that are not possible when only one layer of glass is used. For example:

                                                             Diner                                                        Pacific Playground

                                                                         Click a picture to visit our Pattern Page

 

 

You need no special skills or tools to successfully plate your glass creations. All you need is basic copper foil experience, plus THE BOOK ON GLASS PLATING. This best-seller covers the plating secrets of Tiffany, and every step you need to make it work. Over 4,000 copies have been sold to glass crafters worldwide:

 

                                              The Book on Glass Plating (fourth edition)

 

                                                                         Click the picture to visit our How-To Book  Page

 

Our other best-selling books on plating offer you easy-to-do patterns for plated projects: INTRODUCTION TO GLASS PLATING has five great projects, and 12 PLATED MINIATURES  is perfect if you are looking for small projects that will build your plating skills:

                                     Introduction to Glass Plating                                                12 Plated Miniatures

                 Click the picture to visit our Introduction Book Page         Click the picture to visit our Miniatures Page

                                       

 

If your passion happens to be lamps, THE BOOK ON STAINED GLASS LAMPS  is certain to inspire you. It includes color photos of 54 of the best international lamp designs   (including many  designs by Tiffany), and a wealth of illustrated how-to information:

                                                                                   The Book on Stained Glass Lamps

                                                                            Click the picture to visit our Lamp Book Page

 

THE STAINED GLASS DESIGN HANDBOOK  is a complete guide on how to put maximum visual impact into your glasswork. It has 157 color photos and 67 illustrations:

        The Stained Glass Design Handbook

Click the picture to visit our Design Book Page

When you are ready to tackle major plating projects, we have twenty-two pattern packages to choose from, each one will lead to the creation of an heirloom window like these:

    Tenement Window                  Still Life with Pumpkin                          Mission                    

                                                                      Click a picture to visit our Pattern Page

                                 

 

As soon as you have completed your first plated window, send us a photo so we can post it on our Gallery page along with other beautiful panels, many of them done by first-time platers. Here's just one example of what you'll see in the Gallery:

                                                                                      Villa by JoLynn Bennett

                                                                            Click the picture to visit our Gallery Page.                                                         

                                                                            Villa is available on the Pattern Page

Browse the world's largest selection of plating products to your heart's content. And please feel free to ask us questions (Contact Us).

With your desire to take your glass skills to a higher level,  plus the array of books and patterns available to you on these pages, there is nothing to stop you from reaching new creative heights.

                                                                   

© 2010 by Barry Z. Masser. All images, copy and codes