The History of the Suncatcher

Suncatchers are stained-glass artwork designed to hang in a sunny spot.

Suncatchers are stained-glass artwork designed to hang in a sunny spot. They make a fun craft for children. They make an interesting collection. Suncatchers are everything from a decoration to a conversation piece to a go-to spot to stop and catch your breath. While they have become mainstream decór, their history is a little less transparent than the stained glass that fills them. Reflecting on the history of glass sheds some light on where suncatchers come from.

Discovery of Glass

In 5000 B.C. Syria, Phoenician merchants were said to have accidentally discovered glass. GlassOnline.com states it was discovered when blocks of nitrate were placed by their cooking fire. The nitrate melted from the intense heat and mixed with the beach sand to form a liquid which then cooled into glass.

Sources at the Stained Glass Association of America challenge the Phoenician tale. They believe glass was accidentally discovered when Egyptian potters were firing their vessels. The product was used to create Egyptian beads between 2750 and 2625 B.C., which is the earliest form of glass-art.

Regardless of which story is true, suncatchers were an attempt to revive the lost craft of glass-art after the industry was abandoned in the 1960s.

From Windows to Window Art

Stained glass windows have a firm religious history.

After glass was discovered, small glass beads were crafted as artwork. This artwork evolved into ornate and intricate stained-glass windows designed by master glass artists. The windows were widely used in houses of worship and several periods, such as Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance, each contributed different design styles. Smaller stained glass windows were seen in residential homes as well, but these windows were predominantly religious.

The social changes of the 1960s brought the craft to a near stand-still as there was a mass exodus from religious establishments. As old homes were refurbished, many stained-glass windows were repaired, reviving the pool of glass-crafters. Most new crafters considered it a hobby and shared techniques with others. The SGAA states, "Beginners made 'suncatchers' from pattern books." Suncatchers then became standard home decorations.

Modern Suncatchers

Today suncatchers can be readily found in gift shops and online and are available in various shapes, sizes and colors. You can choose from traditional suncatchers cast in metal frames, substantial designs made from recycled glass, or more geometric products with intricate sun-catching glass bead, crystal and gemstone details. The geometric suncatchers are sometimes known as pendulums and have silver and gold colored metal frames. Some believe pendulums made with gemstones have spiritual, healing qualities.

Suncatcher Projects

Creating your own suncatchers is a creative way to celebrate the beginning of suncatcher art. Kits are generally kid-friendly and often come with an empty metal frame, colored crystals to fill the frame, tweezers to manipulate the crystals, mounting hardware and instructions for finishing the suncatcher in your oven.

Alternatively, you can make your own suncatcher using household items. Mix all-purpose white glue mixed with a few drops of food coloring. Pour a thin layer of the mixture in an inverted, round plastic cover, such as the lid on a container of whipped butter. Sprinkle some glitter in the mixture and allow it to dry. Remove the hardened glue, use a hole puncher to puncture a loophole and tie yarn through the hole.

References

• Glass Online: A History of Glass
• Stained Glass Association of America: History of Stained Glass