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Not currently on display at the V&A

Fragment

15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In contrast to traditional stained glass, which was coloured with metallic oxides when molten, this fragment was decorated using a new technique introduced in England in the early 14th century. This consisted of painting a compound of silver on the back of the glass. After firing in a kiln, the silver compound would turn yellow. Many panels from the 14th and 15th centuries are decorated simply in yellow (silver) stain and highlighted with a brown-black pigment.

This pane of glass is composed of clear glass painted on the reverse with yellow stain and on the front with brown pigment. The thick coat of brown pigment was scratched through to reveal a stylised floral spray. This fragment is a small section of the border of a larger panel, probably showing the figure of a saint under a canopy. The sides of the panel would have contained small rectangular panes of glass that were painted and stained with decorative motifs as seen here.

The religious conflicts that affected the British Isles in the 16th and 17th centuries had a devastating effect upon the decorative arts and furnishings of the Christian church. Much of the medieval stained glass in churches and cathedrals was damaged and only survives in a fragmentary state.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Clear glass painted with brown pigment and yellow (silver) stain.
Brief description
Fragment of clear glass painted with brown pigment and yellow (silver) stain. Depicting a stylised floral spray. Probably English, 15th century. Formal pattern of serpentine foliage.
Physical description
Clear glass painted on the front with a thick coat of brown pigment and on the reverse with yellow (silver) stain. The thick brown coat of pigment has been scratched through to reveal a stylised floral spray.
Dimensions
  • Height: 58.4cm
  • Width: 42.0cm
unframed composite panel
Credit line
Given by Mr. Grosvenor Thomas
Historical context
The religious conflicts that affected the British Isles in the 16th and 17th centuries had a devastating effect upon the decorative arts and furnishings of the Christian church. Much of the stained glass in churches and cathedrals was damaged and only survives in a fragmentary state.

This pane of glass is composed of clear glass painted on the reverse with yellow stain and on the front with brown pigment. The thick coat of brown pigment was scrached through to reveal a stylised floral spray. This decorated pane of glass is a small section of the border of a larger panel. The panel probably had a figure of a saint under a canopy. The sides of the panel would have contained small rectangular panes of glass which were painted and stained with similar decorative motifs as seen here.

In contrast to traditional stained glass, which was coloured with metallic oxides when in a molten state, this fragment was decorated using a new technique introduced in England in the early 14th century. This consisted of painting a compound of silver on the back of the glass. After firing in a kiln, the silver compound turns yellow. Many panels from the 14th and 15th centuries are decorated simply in yellow (silver) stain and highlighted with a brown/black pigment.
Summary
In contrast to traditional stained glass, which was coloured with metallic oxides when molten, this fragment was decorated using a new technique introduced in England in the early 14th century. This consisted of painting a compound of silver on the back of the glass. After firing in a kiln, the silver compound would turn yellow. Many panels from the 14th and 15th centuries are decorated simply in yellow (silver) stain and highlighted with a brown-black pigment.

This pane of glass is composed of clear glass painted on the reverse with yellow stain and on the front with brown pigment. The thick coat of brown pigment was scratched through to reveal a stylised floral spray. This fragment is a small section of the border of a larger panel, probably showing the figure of a saint under a canopy. The sides of the panel would have contained small rectangular panes of glass that were painted and stained with decorative motifs as seen here.

The religious conflicts that affected the British Isles in the 16th and 17th centuries had a devastating effect upon the decorative arts and furnishings of the Christian church. Much of the medieval stained glass in churches and cathedrals was damaged and only survives in a fragmentary state.
Collection
Accession number
C.374-1915

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Record createdNovember 5, 2002
Record URL
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