AboutValerie McCartney Expertise Visit our web site at www.churchwindows.net. I can answer questions about restoration and repair of stained glass windows and their surrounds. I can, also, answer technical questions regarding matching old glass, glass painting (kiln-fired), waterproofing panels (cementing), re-inforcing, removal, and installation. I can not answer questions on glass casting, Dalle de Verre, or glass blowing.
Experience
Past/Present partial client list Aboite Baptist Church, Ft. Wayne, IN; Immaculate Conception Church, Three Rivers, MI; St. Monica Church, Kalamazoo, MI; St. Charles Catholic Church, Coldwater, MI; St. Clair Catholic Church, Centreville, MI; St. Mary's Church, West Phalia, MI; Pleasant View Church of Christ, Angola, IN; St. Paul United Church of Christ, LaPorte, IN; First Congregational United Church of Christ, Olivet College, Olivet, MI; First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, Kalamazoo, MI; Trinity Lutheran Church, Culver, IN; St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Breman, IN; Grace Lutheran Church, Germfaske, MI; St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Rogers City, MI; United Methodist Church, Bellevue, MI; Augusta Fellowship United Methodist Church, Augusta, MI; United Methodist Church, Galena, IL; Metropolitan United Methodist Church, Detroit, MI; University United Methodist Church, Lansing, MI; Believer's Bible Fellowship Church, Churubusco, IN; St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Church, Battle Creek, MI; First Presbyterian Church, Allegan, MI; First Reformed Church, Grand Haven, MI; Bellmor House, Grosse Pointe, MI; Milwood Middle School, Kalamazoo, MI;
Experience in the area I have owned and operated Full Spectrum Stained Glass, Inc. since 1988. (www.churchwindows.net)
Organizations The Stained Glass Association of America, The American Glass Guild, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan
The poto shows a window in an old house built in 1889-1900. It has some breaks as well as cracks due to people moving items up and down the stairs. I would like to know the artist or design and wether it can be restored. Is it worth restoring if I want to sell it or should I sell it AS IS? Would you also give me a ball park figure on what it's worth.
Answer Dear Leon,
This type of window, although quite beautiful, has no unique characteristics that would determine who the original artist was. Have you looked on the glass and lead cames for some type of signature or symbol?
I also think you would probably be disappointed in the resale value if taken out of it's intended space. I believe it is worth being restored and left in place. If you want to replace it because it is leaking air, well, restoration would solve that. After it is restored, you can also put a protective glazing on the interior that is vented to the interior, so to minimize the possibility of future breakage when things are moved up and down the stairs.
As for your last question, I generally avoid 'ball park' figures. I feel it is better to get an accurate assessment from the beginning. I do not know where you are located, so I do not know where to suggest you look for a reputable studio. I recommend going to the following two web sites and looking for some one near you. Do check their references! Do not allow in-situ repairs! By the looks and age of this window, I am guessing, it requires coming out and being all to partially, re-leaded.
[www.stainedglass.org, The Stained Glass Association of America, look into the 'Accredited Full Service Studios']
[www.americanglassguild.org, The American Glass Guild, the majority of glass artists are smaller operations]
When the window is removed for restoration you should perform repair and maintenance to the framing. When all is done, I think you will be much happier than if you stuck in a replacement window, which would look tacky in comparison.
If you need to contact me directly, my e-mail is fssgi@aol.com. There is also quite a bit of information on my web site, [www.churchwindows.net].
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