Rolled glass is made by one of two methods. Molten glass is either dropped onto a flat surface and rolled into a small sheet by a single iron roller or passed between two rollers. The result is a relatively thick, slightly varied glass plate. Rolled glass is similar to the more common plate glass but for the fact that it is produced on a smaller scale.

Rolled glass windows are a uniquely vintage design. They were prevalent from the mid-19th century to the mid 20th century until being largely usurped by float glass in the 1950s. They most likely waned in popularity because they do not lend themselves to mass production.

Figure rolled glass is much the same as standard rolled glass but for one decorative change. On one of the rollers used to flatten the glass a pattern is embossed, which is transferred to the glass in production, where it remains as the glass quickly cools.

Nowadays you'll most likely find rolled glass windows in authentic vintage situations, such as churches, old storefronts, train stations, and the like. It is very difficult to find new windows made using the roll technique. Your best bet would be to salvage an old window from a renovation project, old barn or house, or a salvage yard.

What sets rolled glass windows apart from the rest is its partial lack of translucency. Due to the imperfections inherent in production, rolled glass tends to be thick yet slightly inconsistent. The result being a window that lets as little as 50 percent of potential light pass directly through it. While this may seem a good reason for saying good riddance to the rolled style, it also lends rolled glass a certain style.

Anyone who has seen the slightly wavy reflection of light cast upon an old store wall can attest to the somewhat prismatic beauty of rolled glass. To accentuate this effect, window makers have been known to add a ripple pattern to one of the rollers used to make the glass. This technique, called "ripple" glass, gives the glass plate a much wavier quality, resulting in some very interesting reflections.