Glass fusing is a technique of firing glass together: pieces of stained glass are laid out on a single sheet of glass and fired in a kiln at 800 °C, the layers melt into each other, and the result is a solid piece with no metal joints or seams. Fused glass resists moisture and temperature changes, so it suits bathrooms, saunas and swimming pools.
Key points
- Fused glass is fired in a kiln at 800 °C: the glass becomes uniform, with no metal joints or seams.
- The design can be raised and three-dimensional or partly flat; the outlines come out soft, like watercolour.
- The pieces are multi-layered and strong, resist moisture and temperature changes, and do not age or change colour.
- Fusing is used for doors, windows, partitions, worktops, kitchen fronts and ceilings, as well as clocks, plates and pictures.
- The technique was revived in 1990 in Germany, where the first fused stained glass panel was made.
How is fused glass made?
Fused glass is made in a kiln: pieces of stained glass are laid out on a base, a single sheet of glass, and fired at 800 °C. During firing all the layers melt into each other and the glass becomes uniform.
Heat treatment produces art glass with an unusual texture and a very wide range of colours. The image can be raised and three-dimensional, or some areas can be left flat. The outlines come out airy and transparent, like watercolour, with soft edges and smooth transitions between shades. The thickness and relief of the piece are set in advance.
Dim Skla is a stained glass and glass workshop in Odesa, Ukraine: an art studio and a glass production facility. The workshop has its own fusing kiln, where it makes pieces to clients’ sketches and its own glass for stained glass.
How does fusing differ from Tiffany stained glass?
The main difference is how the glass is joined: in Tiffany stained glass the pieces are wrapped in copper foil and soldered together, while in fusing the glass is fired in a kiln and there are no metal joints at all.
| Fusing | Tiffany stained glass | |
|---|---|---|
| How the glass is joined | Fired in a kiln at 800 °C | Wrapped in copper foil and soldered |
| Seams | No metal joints or seams | Solder lines visible between pieces |
| Design | Raised or flat, soft watercolour outlines | Crisp outlines along the solder lines |
| Strength | Multi-layered, strong piece | Assembled from separate pieces |
The workshop makes both techniques to individual sketches, and the choice depends on the effect you want in the interior. All techniques are compared in our article on the stained glass techniques ordered in Odesa.
Is fused glass suitable for a bathroom or pool?
Yes, fused glass suits a bathroom or swimming pool: the pieces resist moisture and temperature changes. That is why fusing is used in humid rooms, to decorate pools, saunas and bathrooms, and outdoors.
Another property matters in such rooms: the textured glass in fusing does not age or change colour, so the panel stays bright and rich.
What is made using the fusing technique?
Fusing is used both for interior elements and for individual objects.
For interiors and exteriors:
- doors and windows;
- interior partitions and niches;
- worktops and kitchen fronts;
- ceilings;
- furniture and sliding wardrobes.
Individual items: clocks, plates, ashtrays, pictures, candle holders, photo frames and souvenirs.
Because it is multi-layered and strong, fused glass is often used in niches, interior partitions, doors and windows. Fused panels fit any interior style, from classic to high-tech. If you are choosing glass for a door, see also stained glass for interior doors.
Where does the fusing technique come from?
Fusing is one of the oldest stained glass techniques. It was used as far back as ancient Egypt, as shown by fragments of pictures made of fired glass found in archaeological excavations.
The technique was then forgotten for a long time, and stained glass artists returned to it only in 1990 in Germany, where the first fused stained glass panel was made. Today fusing is one of the most popular techniques in stained glass.
How to order fused glass in Odesa?
The workshop makes fused glass to individual sketches. It can be combined with film stained glass, for example by adding fused elements to a film composition.
An order goes in order: discussing the task, sketches, sketch approval, choosing the glass, cost estimate, advance payment (usually 50–70 % of the order value), production and acceptance. The workshop and production are in Odesa, and the pieces are delivered across Ukraine and abroad.
FAQ
Is fused glass a type of stained glass?
Yes, fusing is one of the stained glass techniques. Unlike classic stained glass, it has no metal joints: the glass is fired in a kiln into a single piece.
Can fused glass be used for a kitchen splashback or front?
Kitchen fronts and worktops are among the items made with fusing. Its resistance to moisture and temperature changes makes it practical for the kitchen.
Does fused glass fade over time?
No. The textured glass in fusing does not age or change colour.
Can fusing be combined with other techniques?
Yes. Fusing is combined with film stained glass by adding fused elements to the composition.
Does the workshop make small fused glass items?
Fusing is used not only for doors and partitions but also for clocks, plates, pictures, candle holders, photo frames and souvenirs.
To discuss a fused glass piece, call +380 67 783 40 89 or message us on WhatsApp. Discuss your order · Glass fusing · Tiffany stained glass