Can Pinyonaire Stained Glass Studio focuses on a new model for the conservation of historic stained glass. This approach incorporates similar preventive conservation criteria currently used in most art conservation specialisms. Our practice aims to stand apart from the types of insensitive interventions that have been formerly applied in stained glass restoration, and that still widely prevail.
Conservation approaches at Can Pinyonaire adhere to the guidelines set out by the International Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi, which are followed and accepted in many European workshops in countries such as England, Germany, France, and Sweden.
Each piece is individually and thoroughly studied. Historical research and physical examination are considered key for the creation of a suitable proposal for each project.
Once the documentation has been compiled and diagrams created showing the damaged areas and citing the factors contributing to the condition, we begin design of the proposal. We strive to meet the needs of each individual project in the best possible manner, while following the criteria of minimal intervention and reversibility.
In order to ensure the best transmission into the future of our stained glass heritage, our proposals seek to restore the unity of each piece considering its dual aesthetic and historical purpose.
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Protection and Preventive Conservation
While it is important to consider each case individually, at Can Pinyonaire we believe that the isothermal glass protection is one of the most effective systems for the preservation of stained glass which is at high risk of deterioration.
This system, which has been used for over thirty years, is completely reversible and keeps the historic windows in their original architectural environment.
The process consists of moving the stained glass panels further to the interior of the building, then installing the protective glass in the original place of the historic window. This system creates a ventilation space between the two glass layers, creating a natural flow of air from the interior of the building.
This system protects the historic glass from weather conditions, as well as from one of the major causes of paint loss in stained glass windows: water condensation on the interior surface.
Once this system is installed, condensation will occur on the protective glass, thereby protecting the historic window in a stable and dry environment.
This stable condition will allow the use of conservation resins, as well as slow down any type of deterioration of the original material, encouraging fewer subsequent restoration interventions.
We will work to advise you on the best protective measures for your project depending on the location and condition of the window.
In addition, we will design and create the best protective glazing system to suit the requirements of historic buildings. We can offer options to avoid reflective glare of the protective glazing or to imitate the lead line of the historic window to minimize alteration of the original appearance of a building's façade.
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We provide expertise and will offer advice in the preparation of condition reports, inspection reports, conservation plans, statements of need and statements of significance, historical evaluations and the preparation of grant-applications to funding bodies.
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Collaboration with external conservation projects
As a freelance conservator Anna Santolaria has worked in various conservation projects, both with other stained-glass studios (Barley Studios, Uppsala Domkyrka Stained Glass Conservation Studio) and with workshops dedicated to conservation in museums and specialized centers.
Anna Santolaria not only offers practical work, but can also provide support for the creation of conservation plans or documentation for external projects (diagrams, photographs, diagnosis ...).
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Architectural Glass – Plain Glazing for the Restoration of Historic Buildings
The character of a historic building façade is largely affected by the type of glass used in its window openings. Each historical era has used a type of glass specific to its contemporary manufacturing process.
Before the invention of perfectly flat float glass, plain glass was produced using various systems, including being cut from a cylinder of blown glass, a disk or crown. During the Industrial Revolution mechanized methods were invented which produced large sheets of drawn glass. However, none of these processes created the flawless aspect of the industrial glass widely used today in modern construction.
Before the invention of perfectly flat float glass, plain glass was produced using various systems, including being cut from a cylinder of blown glass, a disk or crown. During the Industrial Revolution mechanized methods were invented which produced large sheets of drawn glass. However, none of these processes created the flawless aspect of the industrial glass widely used today in modern construction.
The evolution of the production of plain glass is rarely considered by architects commissioned to restore buildings built before 1950. However, the detail of incorporating historically accurate plain glazing, while seemingly irrelevant, has been key for many European restoration campaigns, as has had an enormous impact on the finished projects.
At Can Pinyonaire we offer a wide range of glass (blown, crown or drawn) to match new materials with those originally used in the building.
In addition, for tighter budgets, we offer the option of slightly deforming industrial glass (kiln distorted), in order to simulate the appearance of historic glazing in a more affordable manner.
