Shellac used in leadlight

[heutzy]

Does anyone know if and how shellac was used in leadlight cabinets as a display feature.

[Shane Watson]

A bit more info on what your asking might be in order. As reading your question it can be interpretured a couple of different ways. Of course shellac was used in leadlight cabinets but are you refering to the leadlight panels or the timber work?

[heutzy]

I mean the leadlight panels. There are two pieces of glass placed on top of each other and in between the glass there is this substance which has been said to be shellac. It usually starts at the top of the glass panel a very pale yellow and then deepens to a darker yellow/orange colour towards the bottom of the panel. It was used as a decorative feature between the two pieces of glass.

[Cleokitty]

I see this post is from 2003. In the interests of trying to keep the leadlight discussion going I'm adding my 2c worth.

There is no way I can see shellac being used between two pieces of glass as a colouring agent. Shellac is organic and would eventually break down. The traditional clear bright yellow to amber colour one sees in old church windows and even in modern leadlight glass, is from silver stain, a metallic silver compound coating that is painted onto the glass and fired in a kiln as other glass paints', enamels and stainers, are. The firing causes the silver stain, enamels or stainers to become one with the glass. In the case of silver stain which goes on as a muddy colour it turns transparent yellow or shades of amber, in the kiln.

That is a very simplistic description of a complex process. I may be wrong but I doubt shellac would be used this way.