What is “leaded glass”, and is it the same as “stained glass”?
These terms are often used interchangeably; however, leaded glass properly refers to a specific technique for constructing stained glass panels or windows. This method is quite like a jigsaw puzzle. Glass is cut to individual shapes which fit together to form a pattern or picture. Lead cames (channeled lead strips produced for this purpose) are then used to join the pieces of glass to form a panel. Where the lead meets, solder is applied. The panel is then weatherproofed with a lead sealant cement and finished with polish. Leaded glass is still the most popular method of creating large windows, particularly if they are for exterior exposure and need to be weather-tight. For general artistic and decorative work, however, the lead came method has lost popularity to the more versatile and aesthetically pleasing Tiffany Method (see previous question).
