About us

Head of the Studio – Alexander Glazkov, graduate of design faculty of S. G. Stroganov Moscow University of Art and Industry, member of Moscow Union Office of Artists, member of Artists’ Union of Russia and International Association of UNESCO Artists, member of Designers’ Union of Russia.

Leila Al-Numan – art director of “Alexandria” Studio. In 1993 graduated from S. G. Stroganov Moscow University of Art and Industry (faculty of Monumental Decorative and Applied Arts, Department of Glass). She is the author of more than 500 stained glass works. Leila Al-Numan is a member of Artists’ Union of Russia, International Association of UNESCO Artists. She is the author of the book “Stained glass in architecture” (in collaboration with A.B. Glazkov) and of numerous articles about architectural glass.
“Alexandria” Studio began its work in 1991 and quickly acquired distinction thanks to unique specialization in designing and execution of stained glasses and mosaics for privateand public interiors. More than 1000 stained glasses have been executed by the Studio within this period.
All the members of “Alexandria’s” creative team have higher art education. It enables in a professional manner to deal any art and technique challenges, arisen in the process of interior’s creation. Architects and designers who form more than a half of our regular customers, confirm that it is easy to work with us and pleasant to communicate.

Diplomas of:

• Union of Designers and Architects – “For the Best Exposition” on the exhibition “Domestic Construction Materials” in the Manezh.
• The State Duma Committee of the Russian Federation of Industry and Construction – “For Achievements in Design at the exhibition “The World of Glass”” in the Exhibition Center of Krasnaya Presnya.
• Moscow Social Fund for Support and Development of Modern Art – “To Winner of the Second Moscow Festival of Arts “Tradition and Modernity””.
• International Architectural Festival “Architecture”.

The book “Stained glass in architecture” was published. The authors: Leila Al-Numan and Alexander Glazkov.

Stained glass art has an important function in arsenal of art forms, actively effecting on formation of architectural space. Colored glass has been used in architecture starting from the Middle Ages epoch and till the present day.

In the book the authors reveal the challenge of stained glass’s interaction with its space scenery, analyze different aspects of stained glass’s life in private and public interior. One of the book’s chapters represents review and analysis of development of this kind of decorative and applied art in Russia, including extremely interesting in stylistic aspect – the recent post-Soviet period.

The authors, basing on many years’ experience of practical work in stained glass art, tried to enclose maximum information in this publication, which will be undoubtedly interesting and useful not only for specialists, but for the wide range of audience.

You are welcome to the site of “Alexandria” – the Studio of stained glass and mosaic.
Here we present the photographs of works for the most part made in the interiors of private customers: stained glass windows, doors, stained glasses in bathrooms, stained glass partitions and folding screens, ceiling stained glasses; facade and interior works in the mosaic technique.

Studio of stained glass and mosaic “Alexandria” specializes in designing and execution of artistic stained glass out of colored glass and glass mosaic made to order. Professional painters of the Studio will give a consultation, make sketches of stained glasses or mosaic on the assumption of customer’s wishes and initial architectural situation considering the surrounding interior, color and technical aims.

Besides it is possible to perform stained glasses and mosaic designed from customer’s or architecture’s sketches, taking into account all the wishes to the utmost. We perform stained glasses in accordance with the classical technology, as well as stained glasses in Tiffany technique and in the technique of sandblasting engraving. It is possible to combine the techniques. We paint stained glasses with water-glass paints succeeded by burning. It protects painting from damages and abrasion. Inlaying of stained glasses in Tiffany technique enables to perform very exquisite artistic elaboration of details, scarcely limiting painters and architectures in means of expression and transfusion of color nuances and tones. Besides it gives a possibility to create plastic and exquisite drawing’s lines of stained glass. Decorative elements of volume glass in the form of optical lenses, drops, cabochons, facet and ground glasses can be included in stained glass’s surface.

Mosaic – is a perspective trend of “Alexandria” Studio. We use glass mosaic of 3 mm in thickness of different modules (more often 10*10 mm and 10*20 mm).

Fine-grained glass mosaic is ideal material for usage in interior. It enables to create not only monumental art works, but also chamber compositions. We would like to point out that “Alexandria’s” artists cut mosaic by hand. First of all, it permits to make the module which is needed for concrete work, secondly, to combine techniques of Roman and Florentine mosaic.

There are more than 200 colors and tones of mosaic at customers’ and painters’ disposal. One more very important point – we shall begin to inlay mosaic canvas ordered by you as of today, because all the materials are always available.

Main principles of “Alexandria” Studio’s work:

1. Mosaic and stained glass are important elements of interior’s decoration. They certainly have to be “write in” architecture space.
2. Stained glasses and mosaic are not a chaotic set of color glasses. Mosaic and stained glass panels are to have distinct, intelligible and architectonic composition.
3. Stained glasses and mosaic are to be genuine. Compromise imitations, pellicles, varnishes, dyes and lutes are not accepted. It is essential to use only expensive beautiful glass, executing articles of luxury, which best samples are really art works. It is the only way which can fully achieve rich potential of artistic mosaic and stained glass.

Questions and Answers about stained glass and mosaic.

What does the classical technique of stained glass represent?

The classical technique of stained glass supposes a composition of glass pieces, which are inlaid together with the help of metal shape (broach). The joints are soldered. The broach can be of lead, brass, copper and cupronickel. Hardly ever bronze shape is used. Besides stained glass can be inlaid with the help of aluminum molding, but such kinds of stained glasses are applied only in the public interiors, where it is necessary to cover large spaces (metro stations, stadiums).

What does “Tiffany technique” mean?

At the end of XIX century in the United States, Louis Comfort Tiffany, a family representative of famous jewelers began to perform stained glasses. Tiffany carried out a lot of experiments, concerning improvement of assembly. Several new species of glasses were executed under his guidance. Glass painters all over the world use these new at that time technologies. The core of Tiffany technology is that all the pieces of glass are inlaid not with the help of broach, but on quite another principle: every fragment is wrapped in copper pressure-sensitive foil, is spread on tracing paper in accordance with the sketch and is soldered together with the help of tin solder on either side. The prepared stained glass is overlaid with patina.

Film and polymeric stained glasses are often mentioned in these later days. How do they differ from genuine?

They differ to the same degree as laminate differs from natural wood and marble from marbled plastic. This is not by accident that film stained glasses are popular in America; it is a kind of “fast-food” in stained glass business. The technology is quite new. So it is thoughtless to wait for guarantees on long service term of pseudo-stained glass. Besides, there is also a technology of varnished imitations. They fade, bleed and pill as skin from the window.

What is glass mosaic like?

Art mosaic – it is not a familiar standard Italian 2cm small abaciscus which helps to fill large surface of walls. Fine-grained mosaic enables to tile even small-sized panels which are light in their graphics and nuance in their tones. Such chamber perspective of mosaic technique is especially actual in the interiors of mansion houses and apartments. Of special interest, for example, are inlaid mosaic carpets, imitating Oriental ornaments, insertions between the rows of tiles in bathrooms and framed compositions. It is obvious that complicated works suppose sketches to be designed by professional painters. Direct participation of designer is very important in a living process of mosaic composition inlaying. And only in this case the result will be magnificent.

What does the cost of stained glass or mosaic depend on?

1. The cost directly depends on the sketch’s complexity. The more the painting is complicated, the less the module of glass is, the more lasting and laborious work will be executed by assembler artist.
2. Quality and sort of glass.
3. Usage of specially prepared glass: bevel, molten elements, painting with the following burning and other items.
4. Complication of inlaying and assembling, in particular – volume moulds, works, executed directly on the building’s face.

Is it possible to execute stained glass if plastic windows with glass unit are already installed?

Yes, - the assembling technology has been worked out. It is not very difficult for specialists.

Is it possible to install stained glass inside the glass unit between two window glasses?

Of course, it is. Just one condition – this point should be solved at the stage of windows’ designing. Execution of stained glass, glass units and frames should be done simultaneously. Attention! Stained glass has to be executed in a specialized workshop with experience of such works and precise observation of special technological conditions. Otherwise unpleasant defects such as blushing of window glass in length of time and depressurizing can be detected.

How work is usually executed if customer and object are in another city or country?

All the drawings, measurements, projects visualization and object’s photos can be send by electronic mail. In the letter it is necessary to give detailed description of the aim in order the painter could work out mosaics and stained glasses sketches as precise as possible. The work pieces shall be executed in accordance with the drawings agreed between executor and customer. On customer’s instructions the studio-producer can perform all the necessary documents (for example, Admittance of Ministry of Cultural Affairs for exportation of artistic works outside Russia and insurance policy), skillful and safe packing, delivery in the required region and the assembling directly on the objects. It is necessary to learn whether the company, executing such kinds of additional works, has considerable experience. Please, trust your affairs only to professionals.

Where is it possible to learn how to inlay stained glasses and mosaic with one’s own hands?

There is a possibility to get professional education in S.G. Stroganov Moscow University of Art and Industry (in Stieglitz Saint-Petersburg School) on the faculty of artist’s training. There are no centers in Moscow at the present time where people could learn how to inlay stained glass or mosaic as a hobby. Though in Europe, as far as we know, there are such coteries.

What is the medium price of stained glasses and mosaic in Moscow?

Stained glasses and mosaic – are works of decorative and applied arts. If we put the issue in the perspective, there is no sense to speak about “medium price” as well as to discuss “mean temperature in hospital”. The value of picture painted by an artist is estimated not on the assumption of canvas’s and paints’ cost, but only of painter’s level of skill. But there is no question that the objective price of stained glasses cannot be lower than 700 Euro and of mosaic lower than 1500 Euro per square meter (on condition “all inclusive”). If minimum price of art work’s execution is lower than the abovementioned sum, it is worth considering the following:

1. Whether the sketch is executed by a painter who has special vocational education? If the sketch is made especially for you, taking into account architectural situation, or you are offered a pattern from computer files, which was and will be used for several times.
2. Whether the studio-executor performs delivery and assembling. It is very important because there are “hidden agendas” in these actions and none-expert has no idea about them.
3. What sort of glass will be used in the stained glass or mosaic?
4. What kinds of technologies are used in the concrete studio? Whether they use in default defective or inappropriate materials for this technology? Without being a specialist, you will not be able to control all the process of execution. In any case you will have to place confidence in the words of a painter or a manager who consults you. The Studio’s professional experience is subjective, but important factor, affecting the quality of execution.

Many studios confirm that they have been working in this sphere for quite long time and have solid experience…

There is always an objective criteria of experience’s estimation – quantity, quality and complexity of performed works, which photographs are always provided to customer. It vividly shows creative development of the Studio.

What is the scheme of the Studio’s work with Customer?

The scheme of “Alexandria” Studio’s work with Customer of stained glasses and mosaics is rational and convenient for both parties.

1. Customer together with the Studio’s painter defines the style, theme and general range of colors. There are several albums with the photos of the executed works, massive folders with sketches (for 17 years of creative activity) and special literature. Besides, Customer will be provided with mosaic and stained glasses samples, executed in different techniques. For the first meeting with the painter it is appropriate to have drawings, interior projects and made preliminary measurements. On the grounds of this data and conversation with Customer (not only direct owner of the object can act as Customer, but architecture, designer, authorized representative of the owner). The Studio’s painter makes sketches of stained glasses. To the best of our specialists’ belief – it is the most important stage of work. The success or failure of this project will depend on the person who makes the sketch. What will Customer get as a result – a genuine work of art, a decorative colored spot, painted in the interior or just a trivial stuff of disorderly matched glass – it completely depends on the author of the sketch.
    
2. Technical part. Principal solution of technical problems of technical kind, which can spring, while designing, executing and assembling of stained glass or mosaic.
    
3. Confirmation of sketch stage by Customer. Sometimes Customer at his own wish together with the Studio’s specialist selects all the material for the future work. But more often Customer entrusts this procedure to the painter, who besides specific professional skills, must have experience in these specialized fields of applied and decorative arts.
   At this stage the Studio and Customer sign agreement where they stipulate the procedure of settlements, cost, terms and other items.
    
4. Execution of stained glasses and mosaics in the Studio’s workshop. This is a productive stage. Customer’s participation is not needed at this stage.
    
5. Delivery and assembling of stained glasses and mosaics on Customer’s object. If mutually agreed by the parties it can be executed by the studio’s specialists or by Customer’s workers or conjointly.
    
6. In case if our Customer and its object are in other regions of Russia or abroad, the scheme of work does not radically change. For our Studio, constantly executing such orders it does not involve any additional difficulty. It would not become obstacle for our customers as well. All the drawings, measurements, object’s visualization and photographs of an object can be sent by electronic mail. It is necessary to give detailed description of the task in order the painter could develop sketches of mosaics and stained glasses as precise as possible. In this case all the bills shall be paid on account (in Rubles – on the territory of the Russian federation, in Euro – beyond its territory). The works are executed from drawings agreed between executor and customer. On customer’s instructions the Studio can perform all the necessary documents (for example, Admittance of Ministry of Cultural Affairs for exportation of artistic works outside Russia; customs documents and insurance policy), skillful and safe packing, delivery in the required region and assembling executed by our specialists directly on the object. If visit of our specialists is inexpedient, the Studio gives necessary consultations on assembling.

“Alexandria” Studio. Specialization: inlaid classical stained glass out of color glass, mosaic and blown glass made to order.
65a Vavilova Street, Moscow
Tel./Fax: (495) 719-0528, 719-0532.