Vitro Stained Glass specialise in traditional and contemporary stained glass and leaded lights which involves designing, construction or repairing windows or panels. Minor damage is repaired in situ and major damaged windows that require re-leading are removed and repaired in the studio.

Commission & the creative process

The commissioning of a window or a panel involves creating a sketch for the project which can be inspired from photos, pictures, rubbings, etc. It can be done by either myself or a client, but the client is encouraged to be involved in the creative process. The next step is creating a cartoon; this is a real-size drawing of the window or panel. Precise measurements need to be taken beforehand. The client is given an estimate of the price based on the size, complexity and the glass type(s) required for the project and 30% advance of the total commission cost is then required before work on the window(s) begins.

When the cartoon is finalized, colours and glass are selected and agreed by the client. The glass pieces are cut according to the cartoon, and then put together using lead cames. The lead joints are then soldered with a soldering iron. In order to make the window waterproof it needs to be cemented with a lead light cement – cement is rubbed all over the window and brushed in between gaps, then is left to set. Finally, the excess cement has to be cleaned off creating a dark patina on the lead. When the work is finished, the rest of the commission cost is required before the window can be fitted into the required space.

About the artist

Lenka Tichá is a Czech born artist currently living in London. She pursued a career in glass, first studying at the Vocational School of Glassmaking in the well-know glass industry town - Nový Bor, in Northern Bohemia (Czech Republic). In London she learned how to make stained glass and later was accepted for training in a stained glass studio. After completing a Higher Professional Diploma in Creative Arts at Lambeth College she was offered a post as a stained glass tutor where she currently teaches City & Guilds 7822 Certificate in Design and Craft, Decorative Stained Glass and is also a member of the British Society of Master Glass Painters and the Czech Glass Society.