How are stained glass windows appraised? That’s a great question. How do you put a value on something that’s often seen as priceless?
Whether stained glass is in a church, synagogue or house, it can be appraised by a professional from the American Consultation of Stained Glass, found online at americanstainedglass.org. Consultants Carrie Crow Thiele and Kelly Hilburn have travelled all over the country to give people an accurate evaluation of their stained glass treasures. Oftentimes appraisals are done for insurance purposes.
Did you know there are handy books called The Stained Glass Appraisal Guide and The Stained Glass Bible? They’re available for purchase here:
Appraisers look for a variety of features when determining how much stained glass windows are essentially worth today. For example, are the pieces painted/fired with stencil designs or are they straight colored glass? Did the artist use straight lines or varied lines? Varied lines involved more time and effort to cut the glass, therefore making it worth more. Appraisers will also count the layers used– some use two layers; some use four. Is there custom painting design involved or just simple leadlines and no design? Are there any medallions, figures or symbols used in the design? These are some of the things appraisers will look at when determining value.
Furthermore, did you know that if there are smaller stained glass pieces used in a window compared to larger pieces, that automatically increases the value. And age matters, too. Typically the older the window the more it’s worth, since it’s harder to replace.
Finally, appraisers consider who made the glass, when and where, because, just like with great art, certain names command more respect and money in the stained glass world. They’ll also look at the current condition of the glass to see how good (or bad) it is, as well as the presence of or lack of a protective coating. Just like with most things, there are plenty of factors that go into determining the value of stained glass windows.
If you have any questions about stained glass repairs, restorations, ventilator replacements, and/or protective coverings, give Cumberland Stained Glass Windows a call at 717-691-8290.