The work will focus on the development of a sensor for the characterization of applied glass technologies (bulk materials, glass staining, grisaille painting, enamel coating) in uncorroded historic windows combining non-destructive spectroscopic analysis techniques. Stained-glass panels represent iconic elements of European cultural heritage, reflecting the technological craftsmanship of different regions and historical periods. Despite advances in stained-glass conservation, research gaps remain in material characterisation, in understanding and mitigating the environmental and human factors driving glass deterioration and in implementing sustainable conservation strategies. The presence of stained glass extends beyond cathedrals, shaping the decoration of parish churches and private buildings. Comprehensive documentation of Europe’s stained-glass heritage remains fragmented and incomplete, leaving many artworks unrecorded and at risk of disappearing without trace. Fortunately, advances in (imaging) spectroscopy and data processing now offer possibilities before further degradation occurs. Understanding the composition of applied materials is essential for conservators to select the most effective conservation strategies. Existing analysis methods lack the availability of an all-in-one measurement set-up that allows the on-site analysis of all (uncorroded) components of stained-glass windows, providing initial compositional classification of the base glass and insights into the types of silver-staining, enamel coatings and grisaille paints applied. Portable non-invasive techniques are increasingly employed, but benchmarks between non-invasive portable and invasive methods, including the establishment of calibration protocols, remain lacking.

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