Leaded Stained Glass Windows

Stained glass windows are traditionally made with lead to hold the glass pieces in place. Today, lead is considered a dangerous material because of its effect on human health. When stained glass windows first became popular, these effects were not known. Lead was chosen by artists because it is soft and easy to work. They could bend the lead around any shape of glass without constantly cutting it into small pieces. After the entire window had been assembled, the lead was easy to solder and seal. Modern stained glass windows use zinc and tin rather than lead for health reasons.