Family Crest Stained Glass: Why I Love Making Heirlooms
/Quick answer: Family crest stained glass turns a coat of arms, surname or family symbol into a custom window, door insert or hanging panel meant to be passed down. I'm Steve Downing, owner of The Glass Master in Thornton, CO, and heirloom pieces for families across the Denver metro are some of my favorite work. Call me at (303) 457-1886 to talk about yours.
Why Family Crest Stained Glass Means So Much to Me
Most of what I make is about light, privacy and beauty. Family crest pieces add something bigger: a family's story. When someone brings me their coat of arms or asks for their surname in glass, they're usually thinking about the generations before them and the ones to come.
I've built glass on a grand scale, including the stained glass for a newly built castle here in Colorado, still one of the most challenging and rewarding projects of my career. I've also made small panels with a single initial. The size doesn't change the feeling. These are pieces people keep.
Ideas for Heirloom Stained Glass
- Coat of arms stained glass windows for an entry, stairwell, library or study
- Surname stained glass panels, often in a transom above the front door
- Monograms and initials in a cabinet door, wine room door or small window
- Heritage symbols, like a thistle, shamrock or rose, when there's no formal crest
- Hanging panels that can move with you from home to home
My Design Tips
Start With the Best Image
A clear image helps me understand the details and colors. If you have more than one version, bring them all.
Simplify for Glass
Heraldic artwork can be extremely detailed, and glass needs bold shapes to read across a room. My copper foil and leaded technique holds onto a lot of fine detail, but some simplification usually makes the crest stronger.
Get the Colors Right
Heraldic colors matter to people, so I select glass carefully for rich, true reds, golds, blues and greens.
Think About Where It Lives, and Its Size
A crest facing the street makes a statement; one on a stair landing is more personal. And go a little bigger than your first instinct, since glass looks smaller once installed.
Working on It Together
You know the history and what it means. I know how to translate it into glass. We'll go back and forth on sketches until it feels right, and I'll be straightforward about what will read well. Every piece I've made since founding The Glass Master in 1989 has been custom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make stained glass from my family coat of arms?
Yes. Bring the clearest image you have, and we'll design a version that reads well in glass.
What if my family doesn't have a crest?
A surname, monogram or heritage symbol can be just as meaningful.
Where should a family crest window go?
Entries, transoms, stairwells and studies are popular, and a hanging panel can go almost anywhere.
Let's Make Something to Pass Down
About The Glass Master: The Glass Master is a custom stained glass studio owned by Steve Downing in Thornton, Colorado, serving Denver and the north metro, including Westminster, Northglenn, Broomfield, Arvada and Brighton. Phone: (303) 457-1886.
Call me at (303) 457-1886, 7am to 5pm daily, or send a message. See heraldic work in the special projects gallery and read more about me.
