Tomás Sáiz Castillo has been selected by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation and INTBAU Spain as the master craftsperson of the month for January 2025.
Tomás Sáiz Castillo, a master glassmaker from Bárcena de Pie de Concha in Cantabria, specializes in both the creation of new stained glass windows and the restoration or reproduction of existing ones. The process of crafting a stained glass window begins with an in-depth study of the setting, light, and environment where it will be installed. Based on this analysis, he develops a full-scale (1:1) design on paper and carefully selects the colors and type of glass to be used, ranging from industrial to semi-artisanal or hand-blown.
Once the design is finalized, he prepares the templates, cuts the glass pieces, and paints them on a light table. The painted pieces are then fired in a kiln to set the colors. Finally, they are assembled using lead to give the stained glass window its final form.
Among his most notable works are the stained glass windows of the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, as well as the restorations of the stained glass windows in the Church of the Assumption in Torrelavega, the Magdalena Palace, the Tax Agency building in Santander, and the auditorium of the Pontifical University of Comillas at its Comillas campus. Additionally, his stained glass installations at Palma de Mallorca International Airport also stand out.
You can discover more about their work and activity in their profile in the Spanish Network of Traditional Building Crafts Masters:
