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Not currently on display at the V&A

Fragment

second half 15th century (made)
Place of origin

This fragment is part of a collection of fragments from English glass workshops
In contrast to traditional stained glass, which was coloured with metallic oxides when molten, this fragment was decorated using a technique introduced to England in the early part of the 14th century. This consisted of painting a compound of silver on the back of the glass. After firing in the 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. Since the technique reduced the amount of leading required, it allowed greater freedom of composition.

This fragment shows the head of an elderly man. The yellow (silver) stain behind his head might be the remains of a halo, which would indicate a saintly status. Not enough of the original image survives for us to identify the man. It is likely that this image formed part of a larger panel in a church.

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 with painted details in brown pigment and yellow (silver) stain
Brief description
Fragment of clear glass with painted details in brown and in yellow (silver) stain. Depicting the head of an elderly man with full beard. English, second half of 15th century
Physical description
Stained glass fragment depicting a the head of an elderly man with long hair and a full beard. Painted in black and yellow stain, English, 15th century
Dimensions
  • Height: 58.0cm
  • Width: 41.2cm
unframed composite panel
Credit line
Given by Mr. Grosvenor Thomas
Object history
This fragment has been placed in a panel with the following other fragments:
C.328-1915, C.342-1915, C.393-1915, C.392-1915, C.391-1915, C.399-1915, C.66-1926, C.398-1915, C.64-19126, C.406-1915.
C.399-1915 has been assigned the overall museum number for this panel. It was previously recorded as 19FR6.
Historical context
In spite of England's rich tradition of stained glass in the Middle Ages, a great deal was destroyed in the religious conflicts of the 16th and 17th centuries. As a result, much of the glass from this time survives only in a fragmentary state.

In contrast to traditional stained glass, which was coloured with metallic oxides when molten, this fragment was decorated using a technique introduced to England in the early part of the 14th century. This consisted of painting a compound of silver on the back of the glass. After firing in the 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. Since the technique reduced the amount of leading required, it allowed greater freedom of composition.

This fragment shows the head of an elderly man. The yellow (silver) stain behind his head might be the remains of a halo which would indicate a saintly status. Not enough of the original image survives for us to identify the man. It is likely that this image formed part of a larger panel in a church.
Subject depicted
Summary
This fragment is part of a collection of fragments from English glass workshops
In contrast to traditional stained glass, which was coloured with metallic oxides when molten, this fragment was decorated using a technique introduced to England in the early part of the 14th century. This consisted of painting a compound of silver on the back of the glass. After firing in the 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. Since the technique reduced the amount of leading required, it allowed greater freedom of composition.

This fragment shows the head of an elderly man. The yellow (silver) stain behind his head might be the remains of a halo, which would indicate a saintly status. Not enough of the original image survives for us to identify the man. It is likely that this image formed part of a larger panel in a church.

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.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
C.399-1915

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Record createdNovember 5, 2002
Record URL
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