A talk with a museum curator about old glass changed my whole approach to restoration.

I was working on a 1920s leaded glass transom in Sacramento last week, and the homeowner had a friend over who works at the local history museum. She pointed out how the original putty had a specific ratio of linseed oil to whiting, about 3:1, that made it more flexible. I'd been using a modern acrylic compound for years, thinking it was just better. Hearing her explain how the old mix was meant to move with the seasons, not fight them, really hit different. Has anyone else switched back to traditional recipes for period work?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordan_walker14d ago

Wow, that's so true. It feels like we're always swapping out the old way for something new and shiny, but the old way usually had a good reason. I see it with food recipes and even gardening tips too.

cole_miller14d ago

My friend's grandma had the best pie recipe, @jordan_walker.