Sophie Berecz
Art Stained Glass
Welcome to my workshop
I am Sophie Berecz, a stained glass artist. I have been crafting stained glass for the past 30 years.
My workshop is in Ferrières-en-Gâtinais, in the French province of Loiret, a little under 100 kilometres away from Paris.
My journey
The arts, drawing, painting, and sculpture, have fascinated me since childhood.
After a workshop specialising in mural art, I started an internship with stained glass artist Jean Villette. We then became business partners for years.
In 1984, I designed my first stained-glass window, Saint George slaying the dragon. The design was awarded the first prize in a competition organised by Saint-Georges-Motel (Eure) — a town in Normandy. The finished work is in place in the church.
The workshop
I started my business in 1994. Ever since, I have been creating custom-made stained glass windows for private homes, churches, and communities.
Among my clients: Carlos Ghosn (CEO Renault), Robert Merle (author), Vanessa Demouy (actress), Christian Jacob (M.P., Mayor of Provins), Casino de Paris, Vaux de Cernay Abbey (Yvelines), Church in Croissy-sur-Seine (Yvelines), Church in Villiers-Saint-Frédéric (Yvelines), Church in Guercheville (Seine-et-Marne), Lowenbraü brasserie, Champs-Elysées (Paris), Forney library in the Hôtel de Sens (Paris), Council of State (Paris), and more.
In your home
Create a new harmony with the subtle interplay of light and stained glass set in a window fronting a source of natural or artificial light.
Stained glass can be used for existing windows (office, bedroom, bathroom, etc.), in a fanlight, recess, alcove, stairwell, a front door or inside door, veranda, ceiling, skylight...
Lamps
My expertise with stained glass and fusing techniques inspired research into other forms of art where light and glass merge and display their never-ending variety.
Leadlights and other decorative items can be used to embellish your home and reflect your personal preferences.
Community & businesses
Stained glass and fusing can also be used to reproduce logos, coats-of-arms, crests, or made into promotional items, etc.
Restoration
The ultimate goal is to rejuvenate original stained glass so as to restore it to its former splendour. A good restoration is almost impossible to detect at first glance.
For partial restorations, I replace broken or cracked pieces of glass with identical — or as nearly identical as possible — new pieces. When I do full restorations, I replace and entirely refit the leads and tin soldering. The water tightness of each panel is secured using a glazing putty bed.
