Tomás Sáiz Castillo

Stained glass

NAME:

Tomás Sáiz Castillo

ADDRESS:

Calle Raimundo Cicero Arteche nº 12 – 39300 Torrelavega

Website

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK

Tomás Sáiz Castillo is a master glassmaker, born in Bárcena de Pie de Concha. He carries out both new pieces and restoration and elaboration of replicas.

For the manufacturing of a stained glass window, in the first place, Tomás Sáiz studies the ambience, the light and the setting in which it is going to be placed. He carries out a 1:1 scale drawing on paper and chooses the colour tones and the type of glass he is going to use in order to carry out the piece (it can be industrial, semi-artisanal or blown). One he’s done this, he carries out the template and cuts the glass. Once the pieces are already assembled, he paints them over a light table. After that, he puts them in the oven and, once the pieces are fired, he goes on leading up them.

APPRENTICESHIP

He started training in the art of stained glass in 1977, carrying out bevelled mirrors and other glass elements manually. Seven years later he moved to Barcelona to acquire the knowledge which will enable him to master both acid and sand etching. After that, he also completed several courses in Germany and Italy to perfect the technique of the glass melting process. Back in Spain he mastered the task of fire painting along with José Costas.

SELECTED WORKS

Among his most relevant pieces of work it is worth mentioning the stained glass windows of the Monastery of Santo Toribio in Liébana and the restorations of the stained glass windows of the Church of the Asunción, in Torrelavega. Also, the Palace of La Magdalena, the Tax Agency in Santander, the Auditorium of the University Pontificia de Comillas – in its headquarters in Comillas – and the stained glass windows located in the International Airport of Palma de Mallorca.