Dennis Swan
Beveled and Leaded
Glass


Larry Zgoda: Chicago, Illinois (web site)
Many of us across America have seen the beautiful jeweled and beveled glass windows mostly created in the final decades of the 19th Century. Their quality of changing the light cast into the interior environment continues to fascinate many of us.  The best of these were made with steep bevels that have a vivid index of refraction.  This kind of beveled glass is available today.

One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s concepts continues to flourish “the art and craft of the machine”. A good example of this is in the glass arts. Once all beveled glass was made by meticulously, hand working plate glass pieces against a variety of abrasive and polishing, rotating wheels. This craft continues to thrive and we have opportunity to have beveled glass on color flashed and many textured glasses.

In addition, today, much beveled glass is produced on a semi-automated machine for substantially less expense than hand beveling.  Here again, a variety of glasses can be used, including wire glass for a unique techno-texture.  When approaching the use of textured glass, it is important to consider the "smooth" side of the glass.  In past eras, textured plate had a mechanically polished or fire-polished smooth side. Today if old stock is not available, few new plate thickness glasses have a truly smooth side. One exception is the thick “rivuletta” Everything else has a pebbly or course smooth side that results in less than premium beveled glass. 

Automated, line beveling creates an opportunity for beveled glass at an affordable price, but being specific about bevel angle and type of glass can make a big difference in the resulting window.
Other Artist I Work With
Panel with Beveled Kokomo Dalle Glass and Beveled Wire Glass
Jo Perez: West Virginia (web site)
Using bevels in a panel is like placing jewels in a crown.  There is a heightened level of brilliance and sparkle that collects light and draws the eye. This dimension of light bending through glass creates a special effect that enhances stained glass design.  The level of interest and awe this can create is very exciting and becomes an element of movement in a typically still composition.
The hand-made bevel is especially beautiful, with its crisp edges and variable widths, colors and textures being possible.  The custom bevel can depart from standard stock shapes and flow into an original design in a powerful way.  Dennis Swan’s gifted ability to create bevels to work within another artists design is a real collaboration of visions.  He creates bevels like a skilled jeweler cuts a fine diamond:  The jewels in the crown. 

A 12 by 12 Panel with Beveled 3/8 inch Starphire Crystal Glass
Detail
Tod Beall: Monson Massachusetts
When I hung this panel in Charlotte, NC at the SGAA “Jewels of Light” competition, (my first time to show my work to lots of peers), I pretentiously called it “Growth” as I felt it represented an opportunity for personal growth, yadda, yadda, yadda. Since I brought it home and have had a chance to live with it (her) in the studio window a while, it’s become clear that her real name is “Jewelie“. I hope you look her over real close and enjoy what you see. Dennis’ inclusions add dynamic qualities no piece of flat glass could ever match.

This panel was made for exhibit at the SGAA conference in Charlotte, NC in 2007. The title of the exhibit was “Jewels of Light” and each participant was provided with four “jewels” or “inclusions”. These had to be used within a panel or sculpture no larger than 24” in any dimension.
When I received my two roundels, pressed starfish and 2” x 6” clear (Kokomo, Vertigo pattern) bevel, I was definitely challenged! How could I tie them together? After some sketching and free-association arranging on the bench, I began to get an idea. About this time, I met Dennis Swan online and we started chatting about the project. He offered some suggestions. Based on our conversations and my original plan, I drew up a cartoon and sent it to him. I had him cut the original clear bevel into four pieces and bevel the cuts. The idea was to make a clear, beveled strip across the panel to indicate a “transitional” line. Dennis suggested using beveled clear wire glass instead of traditional clear for the rest of the strip. I really liked the idea!
In addition, we decided to bevel some clear 3/8 PPG Starphire Crystal, some ¼ inch amber Kokomo which matched some of the sheet glass I expected to use and some “thick end” Blenko orange. Most of the panel is made from leftover Blenko antique I bought on a trip south in 1976! There is a little green, yellow and blue German antique and a couple of pieces of amber Kokomo. All told, about 22 pieces are beveled.
By the way, I also “dis-included” a piece of glass in the clear, beveled line: There is a hole in this window!
Now, I’m always looking at the next project to see where the bevels will go. Thanks, Dennis. It was fun!
- Tod Beall
- Beall Glass Studio, Monson, Mass.


Examples of Beveled Kokomo, Wire and Thick Blenko Glass. Most Sculptured (Varying Width) Beveled.