Filomeno Alonso and Monserrate Perales are master glaziers specialised in came glasswork fired with grisaille paint. They have been performing this technique for thirty years.

Came glasswork involves fitting cut glass pieces into strips of lead “came” with an “H” profile, which is progressively crimped to… the glass’s edge. Once the structure is complete, it is soldered with tin, on the lead joints only. The jointing is previously cemented using oil putty with drying oil. The ensemble is then cleaned and left to dry. Grisailles are vitrifiable metal oxides, dissolved in water, applied to glass in layers and also in lines. Some require silver yellow and D’poli. Depending on the type of grisaille there are various degrees of firing.

They also employ the Tiffany technique for glasswork in construction, which consists of applying a strip of copper adhering to the edge of cut glass, forming an ensemble of glass pieces with tape, and finally soldering this with tin. If required, a patina of copper, brass, graphite or tin can be added.

The tools they use in making stained glass are simple: hammers, grozing irons, flat-tipped pliers, cone studs, a wheel glass cutter, a glass-cutting square, a thick-tipped electric soldering iron, a lead-cutting spatula and a milling machine for grinding glass. When a series of pieces are wanted with a recurring design, they use a screen-printing technique which they perform themselves in their studio.