Around 1985, I was asked if I would like to make two curved bevel glass panels for a custom cabinet in Richmond, Virginia.

Taking on a new process is always a challenge. If I were fortunate, I may break even. At best, I figured someone was paying for me to learn.

I would first need to curve the 3/16 clear glass in my old pottery kiln. This was before electronic controls. I used a small ceramic strip between a three-prong switch that triggered when the heat melted the ceramic strip.

I then made a stainless steel jig with the correct curvature and balanced the flat glass over it. My goal was to find the right temperature to achieve the curve but to stop short of the stainless steel, pitting the glass.

After much experimenting, I was ready to cut the glass to my pattern and begin curving all the pieces.

Next, I beveled all the glass with a half-inch bevel. If I had beveled first, the angles would have been distorted.

Finally, I made a slightly larger curved platform than the finished piece and assembled the window with zinc.