What is dalle de verre? Learn all about faceted art glass!

Written by John in abstract stained glass,dalle de verre,General Glass Info,glass color,Stained Glass,Stained Glass Repair

Dalles de verre

Many churches, cathedrals, and synagogues, built since the mid-1950s, used a modern form of faceted stained glass called Dalle de Verre to decorate their windows. But what is Dalle de Verre, how is it made, and what are its advantages compared to traditional leaded glass?

Dalle de Verre (from the French “slab of glass”) is a technique created by the French glass artist, Jean Gaudin in Paris in the 1930s. It is made from thick slabs of colored glass cut into shapes, faceted, arranged into patterns, and fixed in position with epoxy cement

Dalles de verre
Colorful slabs (dalles) of glass – about 1″ thick

History of Dalle de Verre

The development of Dalle de Verre in the 1950’s coincided with the emergence of modernism in ecclesiastic art. After the destruction of buildings brought about by WWII, many artists took the opportunity, provided by damaged church windows to create a new, vibrant and optimistic form of glass art. Dalle de Verre with its coarse textures favored a mosaic style which, in turn, was appropriate for abstract rather than figurative designs.

Evolution of religious stained glass

Evolution of ecclesiastical art glass from Medieval (A), Neo-gothic (B), Impressionist (C), to abstract Dalle de Verre (D).

Evolution of production

Early Dalle de Verre panels were made with a matrix of concrete that was later discovered to expand at a different rate than glass causing cracking and structural failure. Since the mid-50s, a two-part epoxy resin that has similar thermal properties to glass has been used successfully. (We use a proprietary resin made by the Key Resin Company in Batavia, Ohio).

This technical improvement has made Dalle de Verre stronger but, contrary to common belief, it can still be broken by determined vandals.

Vandalized dalles at St Francis de Sales
Vandalized Dalle de Verre (cavity protected by black plastic sheeting)

Dalle de Verre panel from St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Tucson – this damage was repaired on-site by Artistry in Glass. Learn all about how to repair Dalles de Verre windows in this post.

Cautious custodians of churches and synagogues should take measures to install protective glazing in this unfortunate era of sacrilegious behavior. Study this video for details on how to preserve stained glass:

How are Dalle de Verre windows made?

The raw materials of Dalle de Verre are thick slabs of colored glass and a special, two-part epoxy resin.

Dalles de verre
Dalles are slabs of colored glass

The glass artist designs the panels in the usual way making a life-size pattern (cartoon) showing the positions of the pieces of colored glass. The glass is then shaped first by sawing with a glass saw and then by chiseling to fit exactly.

Sawing dalles on a diamond saw
Using a diamond saw to cut slab glass

The edges of the pieces are faceted to produce conchoidal fractures which enhance the internal reflection and make the glass sparkle. Faceting is done with a carbide chisel, more simply with a special hammer. The process is similar to flint-knapping used by neolithic men to make sharp stone tools.

Faceting dalles with a chisel
Faceting a dalle with a chisel

The individual pieces are laid out in a pattern by the glass artist inside a wooden form. The base of the form is painted with latex or covered in grease-proof paper to allow for the release of the epoxy. The spaces are then filled with special 2-part epoxy squeezed in from a dispenser like a piping bag used for icing a cake.

Pouring resin on to dalles
Epoxy is piped into the mold to fill spaces between the dalles.

The epoxy is left to cure for up to a week to fully set up. Then the slab is released from the mold and cleaned ready for installation.

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Differences between Dalle de Verre & leaded glass

Stained glass, more accurately called leaded glass, is made by joining pieces of thin (1/8″ thick) with a framework of lead came (sometimes zinc, brass, or copper).

"H"-shaped lead or zinc came.
Leaded glass is made with H-shaped channel called came

Traditional stained glass is very fragile and easily broken and so is usually protected from the weather and vandals by protective glass, plexiglass, or polycarbonate (Lexan).

In contrast, Dalle de Verre is considered to be much stronger and vandal-resistant. However, sad to say, even these strong panels can be busted by determined vandals.

St Francis de Sales windows
Before (left) and after images of Dalle de Verre panels at St Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Tucson: repaired by Artistry in Glass
Dalle de verre
Before and after of repairs of Dalle de Verre from Southern Baptist Church, Tucson, AZ

Restoration of Dalle de Verre

Artistry in Glass has restored numerous Dalle de Verre windows in the Tucson area. Follow this link for a list of churches & religious organizations that we have worked with.

Insider tips from a glass professional

Money-saving tip! Glass and mirror are essentially the same quality whichever shop you purchase them from. So save money by using these glass-buying tips from the experts at Artistry in Glass.

Commissioning a Dalle de Verre window

If you would like the vibrant beauty of Dalle de Verre for your place of worship, home, or even garden – use the same procedure as that explained in this post on commissioning stained glass.

The essential steps are:

  1. Establish a budget
  2. Choose a glass studio
  3. Consult with the glass artist
  4. Decide on your design
  5. Decide on your colors
  6. Approve the finished panel
  7. Approve the installation

To establish your budget – study the pricing calculators below

Price calculators for Dalle de Verre

The cost of a Dalle de Verre panel depends mainly on the complexity of the design:

Simple, average & complex designs
Simple, average, and complex designs

Beware of the weight – Dalle de Verre is very heavy!

In the price calculators below, take careful note of the weight of the panel. For ease of transport and installation, most Dalle de Verre experts make their panels 36″ square or less to keep the weight down to a manageable 100 lbs or less.

Remember that the prices above are just basic guides to the cost of manufacturing a Dalles de Verre panel. The total cost of the project will include additional design and installation charges.

Conclusion

Dalle de Verre is a strikingly beautiful way to beautify your church, temple, or public buildings. The art form is robust and resistant to weathering but still capable of being vandalized so church custodians should take protective measures. Call Artistry in Glass for detailed advice on the protection and restoration of Dalle de Verre windows.

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John

I was an exploration geologist and University Professor working in Botswana, Zambia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and other countries before opening Artistry in Glass in 1986. In my more than 35 years of experience, I have brought my technical abilities as a scientist to the trade of glasswork. During this time I have become an industry expert in glass and glass-related skills. Watch out for special insider tips developed from my detailed knowledge of the glass business.

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