Restoration of stained glass

The conservation and restoration of stained glass is a field separate from the construction of stained glass. The J.M.Bonet workshop has conservators and restorers specialised in this field and specialists in each field of stained glass capable of responding to any situation. The workshop has extensive facilities, microscope, light tables and collaborates with the best historians, physicists and chemists in the study of stained glass. J.M.Bonet attends international conservation and restoration congresses.

In this field, we provide the client with the capacity to correct possible deterioration by working directly on the deteriorated windows as well as with advisory/consultancy services for heritage managers, architects, restorers in the drafting of conservation-restoration projects to find out the state of conservation of their stained glass windows and the future stages and costs of their restoration.

Stained Glass Conservation

J.M. Bonet conservators visit the building. They have equipment for photography and data collection of the main parameters for the conservation of glass. J.M.Bonet collaborates with specialists from other specialities, historians, physicists, architects, conservator-restorers, who provide a multifaceted vision of the stained glass windows. This makes it possible to generate complete reports documenting the deterioration, past interventions, history and origin of the stained glass windows. These documents are essential to know the state of conservation of the object and to propose the necessary conservation measures.

Often the interventions require urgent decisions to be taken in other areas, and establishing long-term conservation strategies and simple conservation measures allow the stained glass windows to be conserved for many years without the high estimated costs of the different proposals. J.M. Bonet’s technicians are in charge of the conservation strategies for the stained glass windows of several heritage buildings.

We attend to the demands of large cathedrals or public buildings that want to know first-hand the state of conservation of their stained glass windows, but we are equally attentive to the small owner who has a domestic geometric stained glass window that has suffered deterioration.

Conservation of stained glass in homes

Part of the stained glass conservation work is carried out in private homes. The workshop offers the service of conservation and restoration of stained glass windows. In most cases, these are geometric stained glass windows made in the 60s and 70s, floral stained glass windows in interior doors. In all cases the restorers of the workshop can visit the home and make estimates to solve the conservation problems of the stained glass windows. If there are broken pieces in the stained-glass windows, gaps, lead in poor condition or poor conservation of the paints, grisaille and enamels, we will suggest the different options to stabilise, correct or reintegrate these problems.

Evaluation of leaded stained glass windows

Heritage architects, conservators – restorers and heritage managers of cathedrals, private and public palaces do not know the state of conservation of their stained glass windows. They are often located in high places that are difficult to access and a good diagnosis requires a great deal of prior experience. J.M.Bonet’s specialists visit the building and draw up detailed reports and estimates detailing the restoration work and proposing preventive conservation measures. These documents are often useful in the drafting of public tenders or as a chapter to be added to the conservation master plans for the whole building.