Beveled glass
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Beveled glass is usually made by taking one-quarter inch-thick clear glass and creating a one-inch bevel on both sides around the entire periphery. These bevels act as prisms in the sunlight creating an interesting color diffraction which both highlights the glasswork and provides a spectrum of colors which would ordinarily be absent in clear float glass.
"Bevelled glass" can be obtained as clusters which are arranged to create a specific design. These can vary from simple three or four piece designs, often used in top lights of windows and conservatories, to more complex combinations of many pieces, siutable for larger panels such as doors and side screens. For the modern process of glazing, these can be bonded to the surface of float glass and then, by applying self adhesive lead strip, can be transformed into a stained glass effect panel. With the addition of colour and textured films, now offered by many suppliers, truly beautiful panels can be created which can breath life into the most mundane door or window. With care and attention to the limitations of how glass can be cut, (and taking these limitations into account at the drawing level) this process of glass decoration can reflect the appearance of genuine stained glass. These can then be sealed as double glazed units for use in modern glazing systems.
It is possible to commission bespoke bevel designs, although this is a more expensive way of producing a panel than choosing stock bevels. The advantages are many if finances allow, as this keeps the artwork unique for the individual. They can be made to represent company logos, animals, sport activities, letter and number characters, or whatever your imagination can create.
External links
- Galleries of glass with bevels (http://www.kaldesign.co.uk/) American Bevel Glass Company (http://www.americanbevel.com/)