Period Features to Love Forever: Leadlight Windows
View the decorative windows of your period home in a new light
Rebecca Gross
8 December 2015
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
Leadlighting is a centuries-old craft, through which beautifully coloured and decorative windows with picturesque effects are created. In period houses, leadlight windows contribute to an artistic atmosphere that adds elegance, colour and style to a home.
Installed in interior and exterior doors, transom windows, side windows and even in fire screens and cabinets, leadlights come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Their design is often a reflection of the artistic and architectural style of the day, be it Victorian, Federation, Art Nouveau or Art Deco. Here’s what to know about the stunning windows that colour and light your period home.
Installed in interior and exterior doors, transom windows, side windows and even in fire screens and cabinets, leadlights come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Their design is often a reflection of the artistic and architectural style of the day, be it Victorian, Federation, Art Nouveau or Art Deco. Here’s what to know about the stunning windows that colour and light your period home.
What are leadlight windows?
Leadlights are decorative windows made of small pieces of glass – clear or coloured, plain, textured, bevelled or etched – enclosed by lead frames (called cames). They are generally non-pictorial; rather they feature geometric designs and stylised plant motifs. This is in contrast to stained-glass windows, which are traditionally more elaborate and of a pictorial nature, and more commonly found in churches.
Leadlights are decorative windows made of small pieces of glass – clear or coloured, plain, textured, bevelled or etched – enclosed by lead frames (called cames). They are generally non-pictorial; rather they feature geometric designs and stylised plant motifs. This is in contrast to stained-glass windows, which are traditionally more elaborate and of a pictorial nature, and more commonly found in churches.
Leadlights popularity in period homes
When first used in domestic houses, leadlights were considered a luxury and thus really only seen in the homes of the wealthy, particularly grander Victorian and Edwardian homes. However, by 1917, The Advertiser (Adelaide) reported, “no home is considered up to date or complete, no matter how modest in design, without its leaded glass”.
When first used in domestic houses, leadlights were considered a luxury and thus really only seen in the homes of the wealthy, particularly grander Victorian and Edwardian homes. However, by 1917, The Advertiser (Adelaide) reported, “no home is considered up to date or complete, no matter how modest in design, without its leaded glass”.
They also advised that leadlights could be bought from glass suppliers who offered showrooms with “numerous beautiful and finished designs … [as well as] exclusive hand-coloured sketches, specially prepared by the firm’s artists…”
As popular artistic and architectural styles evolved over the decades, so too did the colours and patterns of leadlight windows. The doors pictured here are original late-1920s leadlight in a style that transitions from Art Nouveau to Art Deco.
As popular artistic and architectural styles evolved over the decades, so too did the colours and patterns of leadlight windows. The doors pictured here are original late-1920s leadlight in a style that transitions from Art Nouveau to Art Deco.
What to consider when choosing leadlight glass
- You can choose from a wide range of manufactured leadlights, or you can have them custom made according to your requirements.
- Consider the period of your home as this will influence the stylistic design of the leadlight.
- Leadlight windows should not rattle and they should be firm to the touch. Lead lines and joins should be smooth, with no ragged glass edges visible under the edges of the lead, nor any chips out of the glass along the lead lines. Speak with your local supplier regarding any issues in existing leadlights.
- Repairing or restoring leadlights may include deglazing the leadlight, dismantling it, replacing all of the lead and either repairing or replacing broken pieces of glass. If matching an original, choose a supplier that stocks period coloured and textured glass.
Types of Leadlight Windows
The design or style of the leadlight window often indicates the age of the home. Here are some of those styles most commonly found in Australian homes.
Mosaic tiles (Victorian era)
Victorian leadlights (such as these from 1875) have geometric designs reminiscent of tessellated/mosaic tiles. They have muted backgrounds and stronger borders with accents in reds, ambers, brass yellows, violets, turquoise greens and deep blues. Shapes include rondelles and diamonds to surprisingly varied effect.
The design or style of the leadlight window often indicates the age of the home. Here are some of those styles most commonly found in Australian homes.
Mosaic tiles (Victorian era)
Victorian leadlights (such as these from 1875) have geometric designs reminiscent of tessellated/mosaic tiles. They have muted backgrounds and stronger borders with accents in reds, ambers, brass yellows, violets, turquoise greens and deep blues. Shapes include rondelles and diamonds to surprisingly varied effect.
Coloured panes (early Federation era)
Early Federation leadlights are characterised by square, textured, multi-coloured glass panes. Coloured glass enhanced the decorative effect and created a warm atmosphere inside.
Get to know the period features of your Federation House
Early Federation leadlights are characterised by square, textured, multi-coloured glass panes. Coloured glass enhanced the decorative effect and created a warm atmosphere inside.
Get to know the period features of your Federation House
Geometric and Empire motifs (early Federation era)
Leadlights of the 1890s also used geometric lines and employed Empire imagery and other shapes, such as the spun rondelles pictured here.
Leadlights of the 1890s also used geometric lines and employed Empire imagery and other shapes, such as the spun rondelles pictured here.
Patriotic motifs (Federation era)
As Federation and the turn of the century drew closer, the use of patriotic motifs of Australian flora and fauna, as well as the sunburst motif, symbolised the beginning of a new century and the spirit of a new nation. Lyrebirds and kookaburras were particularly popular, as were waratahs and other national plants. Native botanicals were promoted by ardent nationalist and artist Lucien Henry as a source of inspiration for decoration.
As Federation and the turn of the century drew closer, the use of patriotic motifs of Australian flora and fauna, as well as the sunburst motif, symbolised the beginning of a new century and the spirit of a new nation. Lyrebirds and kookaburras were particularly popular, as were waratahs and other national plants. Native botanicals were promoted by ardent nationalist and artist Lucien Henry as a source of inspiration for decoration.
Art Nouveau (late Federation and Edwardian era)
Art Nouveau leadlights, with sinuous lines and stylised floral imagery, achieved great popularity in Federation and Edwardian homes during and after the turn of the century, and were used throughout the interior and exterior of the house.
Art Nouveau leadlights, with sinuous lines and stylised floral imagery, achieved great popularity in Federation and Edwardian homes during and after the turn of the century, and were used throughout the interior and exterior of the house.
Mix of Art Nouveau and Art Deco (Edwardian and early California bungalow era)
Many houses built between the end of WWI and 1925 had leadlights that blended the floral and natural Art Nouveau style with the simplified and geometric Art Deco style. They featured subtle curves, representational flowers and limited coloured glass.
Many houses built between the end of WWI and 1925 had leadlights that blended the floral and natural Art Nouveau style with the simplified and geometric Art Deco style. They featured subtle curves, representational flowers and limited coloured glass.
Art Deco (Interwar period)
Art Deco style leadlights reflected the new modernity of the inter-war period with an aesthetic influenced by geometry, industry and the machine-age. Leadlights in this period were more angular, with an emphasis on vertical, streamlined forms as well colourless, semi-opaque and heavily textured glass.
Art Deco style leadlights reflected the new modernity of the inter-war period with an aesthetic influenced by geometry, industry and the machine-age. Leadlights in this period were more angular, with an emphasis on vertical, streamlined forms as well colourless, semi-opaque and heavily textured glass.
Nature iconography (California bungalow era)
California bungalows were designed and built to have a connection with nature, and their leadlight windows reflected this with more representative images of plants and flowers.
Familiarise yourself with the features of your California bungalow
California bungalows were designed and built to have a connection with nature, and their leadlight windows reflected this with more representative images of plants and flowers.
Familiarise yourself with the features of your California bungalow
Placement of Leadlight Windows
Front door
By the 1890s and the Federation period, leadlight windows were commonly installed on front doors to impress visitors and provide a warm and inviting atmosphere to entryways. After World War I they were more popularly used on front windows.
These stunning leadlights are original to a house built in 1905, and are typical in both style and placement of a Victorian home. These designs could be very elaborate, with side lights and transom windows. Interior designer Kim Pearson says they required significant restoration and re-leading. Restoration took nearly six months, undertaken by a local leadlight specialist in Perth.
Front door
By the 1890s and the Federation period, leadlight windows were commonly installed on front doors to impress visitors and provide a warm and inviting atmosphere to entryways. After World War I they were more popularly used on front windows.
These stunning leadlights are original to a house built in 1905, and are typical in both style and placement of a Victorian home. These designs could be very elaborate, with side lights and transom windows. Interior designer Kim Pearson says they required significant restoration and re-leading. Restoration took nearly six months, undertaken by a local leadlight specialist in Perth.
Circular or bullseye window
Bullseye windows are a particular feature of Federation houses, and usually reserved for the better areas of the house. The flower on this window sitting above the bed ties in beautifully with the tiles around the fireplace.
Bullseye windows are a particular feature of Federation houses, and usually reserved for the better areas of the house. The flower on this window sitting above the bed ties in beautifully with the tiles around the fireplace.
Casement or transom window
A casement is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges on the side. A transom window is a rectangular or fan-shaped sectional window that sits atop the crossbeam of a door or another window. In Federation-era homes, casement sets often included transom windows. In this home, the pattern of the three leadlight panes are interlocking.
A casement is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges on the side. A transom window is a rectangular or fan-shaped sectional window that sits atop the crossbeam of a door or another window. In Federation-era homes, casement sets often included transom windows. In this home, the pattern of the three leadlight panes are interlocking.
Internal door
Leadlights can also be seen on internal doors, such as in this apartment block built in 1918. As the owner explains: “I thought the roses were very appropriate for a little girl’s bedroom.”
Leadlights can also be seen on internal doors, such as in this apartment block built in 1918. As the owner explains: “I thought the roses were very appropriate for a little girl’s bedroom.”
Your turn
Do you have leadlights in your period home? Are they original, restored or added new? Upload your pictures in the Comments section.
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Do you have leadlights in your period home? Are they original, restored or added new? Upload your pictures in the Comments section.
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I could not agree more with R, take it to your fusing teacher and have a go your self. And Giacometta, your right the last picture is etched glass and the Early Federation is just coloured panels but corrrect for the period. I'm happy that this peice was all about real Leadlight and not 'Stained glass' as our American friends call EVERYTHING and anything glass - stained glass.
We learned to do leadlighting at secondary school.
I would not have bedding that close to an open fire.