Nzilani Glass
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Nzilani is an award-winning firm known for all facets of stained glass preservation and architectural art glass creation. Nzilani’s core values, “Be Safe.
Have Fun. Do Excellent Work.” guide all Nzilani projects. Nzilani Glass Conservation was established in 2003
by Ariana Makau, (a Kenyan-American who both
lives and works in Oakland). Makau holds an MA in
stained glass conservation from the Royal College of
Art in London
10/10/2026
This is a big one folks!
For the last 2 months we’ve had the privilege to be the first employer of two graduates from Rising Sun Center for Opportunity who Ariana Makau has coordinated with in the past in workforce development. Andres and Ameer have been helping us get to the finish line to prepare our new building by installing drywall and doing all the mud and taping. They also have connected with other tradespeople on the job to ask about those people’s specialties. Supported by an initiative by the Alameda County Office of Education, we’ve integrated them into our team. Recently they had an experience installing protective glazing for a local church.
This last week, Nzilani was recognized as one of the “Local Youth Hire Champions”. It’s great to get an award, but even better to know we are setting up these young folks interested in the trades for success!
10/07/2026
Back from a work trip in Chicago.
Took an afternoon to visit the Art Institute of Chicago and this stunning work by Marc Chagall. So much movement in the painting style and attention to tiny details. The etched, flashed glass is especially stunning - creating depth to areas already highlighted by the contrast of dark blue surrounding reds, pinks yellows and whites.
People are becoming more aware that if you can view a stained glass window removal in person, it’s an indicator of unsafe work conditions. Seeing the team in action without using a containment unit means you are also exposed to the lead dust (and potentially asbestos) that is getting generated during the removal.
Even if one side is protected with plastic, as soon as the first panel is removed, both the outside and inside areas are exposed.
But, people remain curious.🧐
Here, from the safety of your phone, you can watch the Nzilani team remove a from inside containment. Everything slows down so we can have clear communication through our full face masks(despite the din of air-scrubbers) while also literally listening to the panel. You can sometimes hear or see a small nail, or hear when the sound changes when your tool cuts through the putty an engages with the wooden sash. It makes sense to go slow, communicate clearly and most importantly work as a team to safely get priceless pieces to a crate in the ground. Equally important is ensuring the team has proper PPE’s so they can do their job safely.
07/17/2026
Last week on Friday I gave 3 talks Crystal Bridges about and the Mountain Landscape “Root window” for volunteers, museum members and the general public.
This week I’ve been suited up in Tyvek to safely remove two Tiffany and two from a local church.
This is why stained glass preservation work is so rewarding. You never know what job will come your way.
Is it a take a shower in the morning or at the end day? 🤔
07/09/2026
If you live in, or near, Bentonville, Arkansas, this post is for you!
This Saturday, Ariana will be speaking at Crystal Bridges about Nzilani’s conservation of Tiffany’s Mountain Landscape (Root Memorial Window).
Join her in the Commons at 1pm. Admission is Free.
Touchable objects will be available after the talk.
One of our favorite things on site, the 🍒 on the 🎂 is making perfect copper ties.
Deceivingly difficult, they are like the Goldilocks of stained glass. Too tight, and they deflect the panel (or get ripped out of the solder anchor). Too loose and they look sloppy and don’t support the panel where it needs it (resulting in bowed panels in the future).
Even if they are just right in structural integrity, if they look sloppy, it telegraphs “amateur hour” to your client and the general public.
That’s why it’s so satisfying to have perfect twisted ties, perfectly rapped around the bars and for and to be super extra, the ones on the left panel face left, the ones on the right face right, while the ones in the middle are split in direction. ⚖️
Glide Memorial Church
GLIDE
Ariana Makau
05/31/2026
One of the amazing things about having connections from all over the world is that they can extend your experiences.
This is a great example. Our friend Will sent these extraordinary photos of Subtotica Synagogue in the northern Serbian town of Subotica (right below the Hungarian border).
Has anyone seen “clamshell” designs like this in other architecture? The colors! The ceilings!
Thanks for bringing along for the tour. Were inspired.
This we take a moment to reflect on why today is a holiday.
Proud to be preserving this large chandelier that is part of the Alameda Veterans Memorial Building. Keeping this building in tip top shape ensures it remains an active part of the community, and a tribute to those who have served their country.
Yesterday we were on site at Alameda Veterans Memorial Building which was completed in 1929 by noted local architect Henry H. Meyers. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places - in part due to its combination of Spanish Colonial Revival style with Art Deco components including multi-tiered chandeliers in amber glass with brass, bronze, steel and zinc accents. We’re starting with one, but plan on returning all four to their original glory.
More soon!
05/02/2026
In Montréal, Canada this week for the Joint AIC/CAC ACCR Conference (Conservators from the States & Canada). The talks are nonstop and all interesting, but an hour of respite was taken yesterday to roam the city.
The plan was to visit Basilique Notre Dame - de Montréal. You can see it (wrapped in scaffolding) in the ID photo. But, so grateful that someone recommended Christ Church Cathedral instead. It's welcoming, intimate and inclusive. It also has an AMAZING collection of William Morris stained glass windows. The Justice and Merry were exemplary in linework used as shading. Rarely are windows so exquisite to inspire the urge to grab a brush, bamboo sticks and some glass to do your own attempt, but these certainly did. The choice of glass, stainers, lead lines and paintwork is 🙌🏽
Some images suffer from parallax due to respectfully not standing on pews for a better angle. More reason to go see them in person!
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Address
3246 Ettie Street
Oakland, CA
94608
Opening Hours
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
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