When Did Foil Replace Lead?
by Shelby
(Port Augusta)
When did copper foil replace lead?
Answer
Tiffany developed the copper foil technique in the late 1800s, so it's been around for a long time. However I believe it started becoming popular with the hobbiest in the late 60s.
Copper foil has not replaced lead, but a lot of places don't teach the lead technique anymore because the instructors don't know how to do it.
I do worry that it's a dying art because as more and more people become experienced with copper foil and want to teach, they won't be able to teach the lead technique because they never learned it...and so the snowball rolls!
There are many people that visit this web site that work with lead, and there are many stained glass businesses that work exclusively in lead, so it hasn't disappeared (and I doubt if it ever will). However, we need to get more people interested in the lead technique and revive teaching it in classes.
I'd be interested to know what other people reading this think about it. Use the comments section below to give us your thoughts.
