Dating lead came
04-May-2020 09:45
From the 16th century, cames were produced by extruding lead through a mill.As a sign of authenticity, you may find names of manufacturers or dates impressed into the lead on the flat ‘heart’ between the H-shaped flanges.More serious distortion places further stress on the cames, which may then lift from the glass, increasing the risk of breakage.It also traps moisture, accelerating the decay of both the glass and the ferramenta.It may be possible to reduce distortion in situ, but in the severest cases panels will need to be laid flat to be repaired.
Loose or leaking glass may be re-sealed within the leadwork using glazier’s putty – a mixture of linseed oil, whiting and white cement.
Broken or cracked glass can be replaced on a small scale by bending back the flanges of the cames to insert new pieces, and re-sealing.