While those scamps, Chris and John, are on their way to Georgia for the French Oak Roubo Project-Part Deux (and we wait for their daily updates) let’s take a look at a few stained glass tributes to woodworkers.
In the Cathedral at Chartes there are 13th century jewel-like scenes of carpenters, a wheelwright and a cooper working away on biblical constructions.
Woodworkers of the biblical kind are fairly easy to find in stone, mosaic and stained glass. But what about the modern craftsmen? Where are they in the stained glass world? I found a few.
The Maryhill woodworkers are one of twenty panels depicting a variety of trades and industries. The artist is Stephen Adams.
The Potterspury window was designed by Chris Fiddes and made by Nicholas Bechgaard.
This section is from the Wren Window. Christopher Wren rebuilt the church after the Great Fire of London. The church was struck during the Blitz and rebuilt again after World War II. The artist is Bill Forbes.
This last window is by Thomas Derrick and is my favorite. The craftsman is positioned on his own small island and we look in on him as though through a skylight. He works away undisturbed and serene. His myriad tools frame him and his life’s work.
In each window the stained glass artists are honoring their fellow craftsmen that have helped build and maintain the local churches, town halls and guildhalls. The windows help record the history of place and craft. And although each window shows just one or two men, they stand in for all woodworkers.
Sometimes a tribute is a small plaque on a wall and sometimes the tribute, the thanks for your skill and hard work, takes the form of a gorgeous glowing window.
–Suzanne Ellison
Their absence is our gain! Thank you for this brilliant display of crafts in stained glass.
Chuck
Have to say Suzanne, I really enjoy your writing. And your offerings in pictures and other finds has increased my interest in this blog.
You are definitely a keeper !
Thanks again
Eric
central Florida
Eric, thank you. That’s very kind of you.
I have to echo Eric’s comments, and especially thank you for the stained glass. My wife is an artist who tries her hand at anything, and has created stained glass, including windows, in the past. That increases my appreciation of these windows you show.
Very nice images, thanks. Here’s a few stained glass windows from the D’Elia Antique tool museum in Scotland, CT.
http://marcsitkinphotography.zenfolio.com/p547547195
Marc, wonderful photos! Thank you.
Nice photos Marc.
Thanks for sharing them.