The History Of French Doors

French doors can be described as a marriage between glass windows and doors

. The history of French doors is a story about how the two came together. The narrative begins with the history of glass. Techniques for making colorless glass were first invented in the 9th century B.C. It wasn't until 100 A.D., however, when glass blowers in Alexandria discovered that they could make clear glass by introducing manganese dioxide into the glass-making process, that glass began to be used for windows.

The Precursor of French Doors

Glass for early windows was cast directly onto the window frame. By the 3rd century, the Romans were making glass for windows by cutting and flattening blown glass. The use of glass for windows expanded during the 7th century as Christians began to build large-scale churches throughout Europe. In the 11th century, German glass workers introduced new glass-blowing techniques that allowed larger panes of glass to be cut, a technique that was perfected by 13th-century Venetian artisans.

Renaissance Windows

Until the late Renaissance period, those who could afford glass windows in their homes placed the most expensive and elaborate models in the upper stories where they were less likely to break. By enclosing small panes of glass in a framework of wood or metal, called a casement, it was possible to create large windows without the expense of large sheets of glass. Glass casement windows were eventually lengthened to the floor to allow access to balconies.

Renaissance Doors

Door styles during the Renaissance Era varied from country to country. In Italy, door decoration was primarily confined to the archway and frame of the doors. While the doors themselves were plain, they were often divided into multiple panels. In France, however, the opposite was the case. The fashion was to ornament slab doors with elaborate architectural features.

War Ends in Marriage

France and Italy were at war during the early years of 16th century, and as French victors brought the spoils of war back to France, the culture began to be influenced by Italian styles in art and architecture. France experienced a building boom in the Loire valley during this period, and it is in the chateaux of the French countryside that French doors first began to be used.

By combining the multi-paneled doors of the Italian tradition with the multi-paned full-length windows that had by then become popular throughout Europe, French doors finally moved downstairs. They have remained popular choices for doors that allow access to the outdoors without blocking the view ever since.

by: Peter Wendt

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