This photo is from our building's foyer, built circa 1920. The light coming through the front door windows refracts in the old glass panes, creating beautiful, ripple-like patterns. Our living room windows have the same effect but it was only after a recent window washing that the wavy reflections really started to shine...
Anyone with an old home is probably familiar with this glass — made from different hand blowing or primitive machine methods in the late 19th, early 20th Centuries — with a much lower optical perfection compared to glass manufactured today. Like they say, they don't make it like they used to and, personally, we love the charm it brings to our space.
The big downside to having a house full of antique glass window panes is when it comes time to replace them — the effect won't be the same as you can see with the bottom right pane in the photo above. There are companies out there collecting and reselling old glass but it's not cheap.
It is interesting to us that in trying to perfect glass windows, all character has been lost, making the older stuff more desirable. The common misconception that glass is a liquid and therefore all glass will eventually look rippled if given enough time is simply not true. Glass may be a liquid (arguably) but it is also very stable meaning that distortions and refraction effects are directly related to the manufacturing process. So if you just bought windows, they're always going to look "perfect."
Does your building have old glass? Do you love it or hate it?
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I have most of the original glass in my 1885 Victorian bay window and love it, especially the slightly distorted views of the tree out front. We've replaced some of the windows in the back of the house with new double-paned, energy-saving windows that actually open and close, but wouldn't even considering replacing the beautiful antique bay.
view lella's profile
I love this photo. I have taken several around my house of shadows different things make. I posted one about a light fixture last week and a couple of my friends were completely confused. very fun, this one is great
view ssabbe's profile
Oh! I thought the 1st photo was a hand X-ray. I was surprised when I read the caption!
view AlmostAD's profile
I've lived in a number of buildings with that old, original glass... and have always loved the light play on the walls and floor.
My current place, an apartment building built in 1949 - and converted to condos in 2005 - has glass with sort of line striations rather than the ripples. It still has a very cool affect.
I hope if I ever get to buy a house that it has old glass. I see so many places around here replacing windows with that awful white vinyl windows. Even in quality old houses. It saddens me.
view clickchick's profile
Love it!
view olga's profile
haunted and beautiful past in glass
view Haunted_Studio's profile
Magical! Adds movement, life, ephemeral texture!
Could you add a photo of the glass itself. Pretty please?
We just enhanced our own interior front vestibule by replacing the half-door window's plain glass (with iccky privacy film coating) with another wavy glass: Flemish Architectural. Looks like puddles. The effect is that anybody entering the house gets a mysterious, swimming, nuanced glimpse into the house.
view DeborahMcP's profile
Um, and your question was? "Does your building have old glass? Do you love it or hate it?"
Alot of our old wooden sash windows (house circa 1939) still contain the wavy original glass, and we love it. But we've repaired alot of broken panes, and unfortunately we used the modern stuff, before we knew any better.
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