First developed by Muslim designers in Eastern Asia, the stained glass art form reached its peak during the middle ages. In the nineteenth century, stained glass experienced a renaissance thanks to the romanticism movement and the Gothic revival. Artists of this time noted for their work with stained glass include John La Farge and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Stained glass is created by adding metallic salts to the glass during the manufacturing process. Centuries ago, stained glass was limited mainly to primary colors, but today, virtually every color in the rainbow can be created. Furthermore, fine detailing such as shadows, highlights, and outlining can be achieved by painting the glass with special metal oxides, then firing the glass in a kiln to fuse the oxides to the glass. Using different colors will alter how a piece of stained glass looks, but using different types of glass can also alter the appearance. For example, a single color on rippled glass will take on different characteristics than the same color of smooth glass. This is one way craftsman would add variety and distinctiveness to their stained glass pieces. Today, stained glass is not limited solely to church windows or Tiffany lamps. Sold in sheets roughly three feet by four feet in size, stained glass can be used by the amateur artist to create striking artwork. Contemporary uses for stained glass include mosaic tabletops, for example. If one would rather learn the classical methods for creating stained glass art, a handful of academic institutions offer courses employing the traditional methods of creating stained glass windows and other pieces. | 
