Tuesday 28 February 2012

Aesthetic Movement Window

While working on this set of  in situ repairs on a stair window in the Park Circus area of Glasgow:

Half landing stair window

 I came across a window next door  which is from the aesthetic movement, that might possibly be by Stephen Adam.


This is now the workstation for the receptionist.  It is an enviable place to work.

Saturday 25 February 2012

Feathers in Chichester Cathedral

While visiting family I went to Chichester Cathedral a while ago.  There, off a side aisle I came across the work "Feathers" by Carrie Fertig.

Feathers suspended against the light

Feathers with light from the front

I had expected this installation to be permanent, but have heard lately that it has already been taken down.  I am glad that I was able to see the installation in person rather than through pictures.

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Bothwell

I stumbled across a big house in Bothwell last summer that was being worked upon.  The building dates from the 1860's and was originally in large gardens.  It has now been surrounded by other houses facing a large square. I got permission from the owner, who happened to be on site, to take some photographs of some of the more than 40 leaded glass windows in the house although it has been divided into two houses - one at the back and another - the one being worked on - at the front.  This is a record of some of those windows on the ground, first and second floors.






This is what remains of the original entryway.  The leaded glass from the front door has been lost and replaced by a single sheet of textured glass.

However when you turn right into one of the lounges, the glass is much better preserved.  This lounge has a curved bay of five windows each of which has been curved including the leaded glass at the top.








You can see from these photos, that the amount and colour of the light affects the  character of the window in addition to the planned variations.


The room also contains a second door with a fanlight over it.  This is done in the same pattern and colour way as the others, but does not have any trees immediately outside.

The lounge on the other side of the hallway has a different character.  It has a rectangular bay which leads me to wonder about whether one was mainly the women's sitting room.  This more rectangular lounge has a bay of three front facing windows, and two side windows, one of which is represented here.

Front rectangular lounge windows

One of the side bay windows

At the back of the house the windows become more plain and sometimes seem to be functioning as security screens as in this downstairs cloak room.



As you go up a long stair way, you come to a now blanked off entrance to the first floor rooms above the kitchen and servants' quarters.  However as you turn to go up the second, shorter flight you pass this stair window.



The detail is difficult to see, so I have divided the window into three parts to give an impression of the amount of detail in this deceptively simple window.

Top


Middle


Bottom

The rooms of this part of the first floor have windows of the same design as the lounges below.  However, none of the rooms of this part of the house are bowed.

Sometimes the windows are paired

Sometimes the design is squashed for a narrow window

For a wide window, a central astragal is introduced

In others, the design is a direct echo of the ground floor windows
The windows to the side and back tend to be rectangular, wider and have an astragal 
 If you have the stamina, you can go up to the second floor where the billiard room must have been.

Front of the billiard room looking into the square.

 Here, in under the roof,  a vestige of the design from the ground floor remains.

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Cottier's

The window over the chancel is very large. It contains images of a number of the elders of the early church. Each of them is surrounded by text from the Beatitudes.



The North, Rose Window



The Central Light Containing the Star of David



The Jeremia Light



A Poorly Focused Detail of Jeremia



Blessed are the Peacemakers



Oded



Blessed are the Poor


Peter



Blessed are the Merciful


Abraham



Blessed are the Pure in Heart


Jonathean


Moses




For those who wish to know more about the architect, Cottier, and the context of the building there is a very good monograph on it.   It is Cottier's in Context: Daniel Cottier, William Leiper and Dowanhill Church, Glasgow.  Case Study 3. Historic Scotland, Edinburgh 2011.  ISBN 978 1 84917 052 9.

Friday 18 November 2011

Cottier's


There are two windows on the East side of Cottier's that are figurative. They are at the North end of the East side of the building.


The David window is nearest the north end of the building. The figure is set within the geometric ground of all the windows.



The Full Window from Scaffolding




The Full Figure in Two Parts



Tracery



Top Light of the Tracery



Left Light of the Tracery



Right Light of the Tracery

Sunday 13 November 2011

Cottier's

The Miriam window is on the right of this picture. Her face and arm can be seen in the central light of the window. I have no knowledge, but it appears that Cottier used some translucent glass for the flesh tones of these figures.


The figure of Miriam is surrounded by fronds, flowers and fruit packed around her to provide a whole screen of colour.


The Main Part of the Miriam Window




The Figure of Miriam



Upper part of Figure Showing the Masculine Features of Miriam as Drawn by Cottier



Top Part of Tracery



Left Tracery Light



Right Tracery Light