Architectural Art Glass: Wayne Cain

Business Name: Cain Inc.
765 Bremo Bluff Rd.
Bremo Bluff, VA 23022
Telephone: 434.842.3984
Fax: 434.843.1021
Email: wayne@WayneCain.com

No doubt you've seen them. You're driving through a neighborhood of old and restored houses and you see those stunning stained glass windows, doors and transoms. Or you're in a church or historic building and there they are again: Stained glass windows commemorating religious figures, prominent people or events. A lost art from the past? No, not at all. They're available and are only a phone call, fax or email away.

Wayne Cain, who works from his secluded shop in a remote corner of rural Virginia, creates some of the finest art glass available anywhere. With over thirty years experience researching and perfecting ways that glass can be used as art in architecture, Wayne offers historical designs, contemporary beveled glass windows, religious and public windows and much more. When he finishes a job it's sure to satisfy the needs of the most discerning of clients. Wayne recently talked with Old House Authority about his business.

What kinds of things do you offer with your business?

"We design and build art glass windows with stained glass, hand beveled glass, acid etching, carving, painting and lamp working. Our clients include home owners, churches and public buildings."

What different kinds of designs do you make available to clients?

"We have an extensive collection of historical designs for beveled and stained glass entryways, transoms, landing windows and domes. We also make contemporary beveled glass windows in various thicknesses and textures. And, in addition we make religious windows and windows for public buildings."

Is your work done by machine or by hand?

"From conceptual drawings to finished piece, each step of our process is done by hand with meticulous attention to quality and detail. For instance, we hand-bevel glass. By holding the glass over rotating iron, stone, cork and felt, each bevel receives many small facets that give the finished window its brilliancy."

How did you learn this highly specialized business, especially how did you learn how to achieve the varied visual effects in your glass-work? Did you apprentice to someone or go to school for your training?

"Neither, I'm entirely self-taught and I achieve the effects you speak of by using a variety of hundred-year-old machinery."

How does your work differ from what is available from commercial glass companies?

"Our contemporary beveled glass windows feature various thicknesses and textures of glass with diverse angles of beveling to create an interesting alternative to traditional beveling. Our religious windows are designed as one of a kind to complement the architecture of the building the window is going in, while our public windows are designed and produced on time and under building codes. For houses, clients can choose from our extensive collection of historical designs for beveled and stained glass entryways, transoms, landing windows and domes."