The traditional H-shaped strip of lead used to join pieces of stained glass is called lead came.
A came is a slender length of lead with grooves on opposite sides. Glaziers place the edges of individual glass pieces into those channels, forming a network that holds the design together. The joints are then soldered, and the completed panel is often reinforced with ties, bars, or a supporting frame.
Lead came has been used in European stained-glass windows since the medieval period. Its flexibility makes it suitable for assembling complex patterns and adapting panels to architectural openings. Different profiles and widths can be chosen according to the scale and strength required.
Copper foil is a different construction method associated especially with Tiffany-style lamps and smaller objects. In copper-foil work, each glass piece is wrapped in adhesive copper tape before soldering; it is not fitted into H-shaped lead channels.