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Period: 19th Century
Pair of Antique French Shutter in Old Crumbly Paint From a Chateau in Brittany
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique pair of French shutters in very old paint removed a long time ago from a chateau located in Brittany.
**Width provided is for the wider shutte...
Category
French Country Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood, Paint
Large Plaster Architectural Ionic Capital Element, Austria, 1880
Located in Almelo, NL
Decorative large cast plaster capital of Iconic order, Austria, 1870-1880. The capital is formed by two volutes on the flanks connected with decorative...
Category
Austrian Baroque Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Plaster
19th Century French Louis XIV style balcony railing
Located in Houston, US
19th C. French Louis XIV wrought iron bombe balcony railing. It is characterized by its hand-forged, ornate scrollwork and a bombe form that curves outward. These types of railings w...
Category
French Louis XIV Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Antique Large Moroccan Moorish Antique Ryad Studded Door 19th C.
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique massive handcrafted Hispano Moresque studded doorway, incredible work, very heavy authentic Moroccan door.
One door inside a larger door.
19th ...
Category
Moroccan Moorish Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
$10,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Louis XV Fireplace Mantel in Striking Breche Marble
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Superb 19th century Parisian Louis XV fireplace mantel in beautiful soft toned Italian Breche marble.
The serpentine shelf rests above a paneled frieze centered with an beautiful fl...
Category
French Louis XV Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Breccia Marble
$30,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Beautiful Breche Marble Fireplace Mantel, Free Shipping
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Its a pleasure to offer this wonderful French fireplace in beautiful Italian Breche (Breccia) marble.
This early 19th century transitional (XIV - XV) mantel shows a great variety of ...
Category
French Louis XV Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Breccia Marble
$31,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Monumental 19th Century Indian Building Facade
Located in Chicago, IL
This magnificent building facade was once part of a grand mansion in Gujarat, India. It is entirely made from Teakwood, which is highly resistant to in...
Category
Indian Anglo Raj Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Teak
$84,000 Sale Price
30% Off
Late 19TH Century Cast Iron Lamp Post Base heavy decorative floral relief
Located in Buffalo, NY
Late 19TH Century Cast Iron Lamp Post Base heavy decorative floral relief ..Wonderful design,, 4-sided, (MATCHING) one panel removable (access pane...
Category
American Gothic Revival Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
Antique French PAIR BUFFET WINE Doors Hand Painted Menus Bar Wine Cellar Oak 19C
Located in Tyler, TX
EXQUISTE Antique French PAIR of Oak WINE Buffet Doors~~Early 19th Century
Fabulous pair of painted wine doors can be hung on the wall of any bar or game roo...
Category
French Renaissance Revival Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Oak
Italian Decorative Wall Panel Carved w/Helmet, Horn
Arrows, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian hand-carved wall plaque, with its original painted and gilt finish, from the 19th century. This antique wall decoration from Italy features a rectangular-shaped molded surround, with quarter-circle inner edges, that frame a carved assemblage of helmet, horn, arrows, and foliate motif at center with carved-rope and bow-tied ribbon in gilt. The original hand-painted finish has a faux marble background in gray hues, with green, red and gilt accents on the center carvings. This 19th century Italy carved plaque...
Category
Italian Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
Antique Relief Tile Panel in the Style of J. Parentani, 1890
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning Art Nouveau/ Arts & Crafts tile panel from the superb firm, Craven Dunnill, & Co., Ltd, Jackfield Salop, England, circa 1905, in a bright celadon. This quantity original jug...
Category
French Medieval Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Earthenware, Pottery
Set Chinese Carved Panels Screen Room Divider 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous set of four hand carved Chinese screens
These were originally part of a screen or room divider and could be put back together to serve that purpose if required
Good size at ...
Category
Chinese Export Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
Wood Sculpture Container from Old Water Mill Gear, China 1800-40
Located in Round Top, TX
This wood accent piece originally served as a section of gear work from a water mill in China. The deep worn patina of the rich hard wood is warm and inviting. May be used as a conta...
Category
Chinese Chinese Export Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
Antique Wrought Iron Decorative Transom
Located in Redding, CT
Antique wrought iron decorative Transom or window guard. Lovely half moon shape with detailed scroll work.
Some restoration done to piece. See photos. Perfect ornamentation for above...
Category
Art Nouveau Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
$1,000 Sale Price
54% Off
Pair of Marble Columns, Italy, Late 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Pair of Marble Columns is an impressive original decorative object probably realized in the 19th century (bases are much older).
Original very fine green marble and white marble (...
Category
Italian Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble, Carrara Marble
$19,121 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Antique Mantel
Located in Made, NL
Antique Paonazzo Marble Chimneypiece for Sale
There is something undeniably captivating about an original antique fireplace mantel, especially one crafted from a rare and beautif...
Category
French Louis XIV Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
$20,784
Antique mantel of Breche Violetta marble from the 19th century
Located in Made, NL
A One-of-a-Kind 19th Century French Marble Mantel
This antique marble mantel from 19th-century France is a fine example of the Louis XV style, celebrated for its flowing curves and ...
Category
French Louis XV Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Antique Walter MacFarlane
Co English Cast Iron Royal Coat Of Arms Shield 61"
Located in Dayton, OH
Very heavy and large Mid 19th Century English Cast Iron Royal Coat of Arms Shield or Crest. Made from solid Cast Iron from the Walter MacFarlane & Co, Saracen Foundry Possil Park Gl...
Category
Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
$20,300 Sale Price
30% Off
Teakwood Architectural Temple Pediment
Located in Chicago, IL
This giant architectural element once graced the pediment of a Northern Thai temple. It is from Chiang, Mai, Thailand and entirely made from Teakwood, which is naturally resistant ...
Category
Thai Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Teak
$3,750 Sale Price
25% Off
Three Delft Ceramic Wall Tiles Blue
White figures Hand Painted, Circa. 1800
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a very decorative set of Three small ceramic wall tiles, with a Blue and White figural scene, dating to the later part of the 18th century or early in the 19th Century.
Al...
Category
Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Painted Antique Columns with Corinthian Capitals
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of antique Corinthian columns are painted with a marblized effect on each base and shaft and have black capitals, above which are ce...
Category
European Classical Roman Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
Antique Wrought Iron Signage Bracket
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique wrought iron bracket is decorated with curls and a spear-like tip. Holes on the side bar can be used to secure to the side of...
Category
European Renaissance Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Large Pr. Wrought Iron Finials English 19th C.
By Fiske Or Mott
Located in New York, NY
Incredible pair of wrought iron finials, probably originally placed on a brick wall as decorative elements at an entrance. The finials feature fol...
Category
English Victorian Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
$4,800 Sale Price / set
20% Off
19th Century Gilt Wood Fragment Architectural Sculpture, France
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French Gilded Wood Rococo Wall or Table Fragment.
Beautiful period Rococo design constructed in gilt wood featuring intricate scroll motifs throughout as well a small old mirrored ...
Category
French Rococo Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
Pair of 19th C. Italian Stone Artichokes
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 19th century weathered stone artichoke finials. They are all hand chiseled and have bulbous shapes with a layered, petal-like pattern coverin...
Category
Italian Classical Roman Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
$1,200 Sale Price / set
50% Off
Large Late 19th Century French Double Door in Original Paint
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Large French double door from the late 19th century. Made of solid pine wood in the original paint.
Doors made in frame construction with 4 cassettes each.
Very beautiful origi...
Category
French Belle Époque Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Pine
Imposing Pair of Carved Satin Wood Doors
Located in London, GB
A pair of monumental solid satinwood doors with classical egg and dart carved decoration and fine quality brass door furniture.
Brass door pulls marked CHING (Comyn Ching of Londo...
Category
English Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Satinwood
Suprising Antique Louis XV Fireplace Mantel
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Beautiful and surprising 19th century French Louis XV Rococo style fireplace mantel in white marble.
The perfect dimensions and decorations truly make this mantel stand out.
Lo...
Category
French Louis XV Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble, Carrara Marble
Set of 6 Old Dutch Hand Painted Delft Tiles by Royal Tichelaar Makkum, c. 1880
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Set of six old Dutch hand painted ceramic tiles attributed to Royal Tichelaar Makkum featuring scenes of equestrian cavaliers.
Netherlands, late 1800's.
Dimensions: 5-1/4" Square x ...
Category
Dutch Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Faience
Antique Carrara marble fireplace in Pompadour style, 19th century
Located in Made, NL
This elegant antique fireplace, made of refined Carrara marble, comes from France and exudes the charm of the 19th century. With graceful lines and subtle details, it is a timeless v...
Category
French Other Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Cast Iron Lion and Unicorn
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
19th C cast iron lion and unicorn with original paint. 1860.
Unicorn dimensions: 26" W x 4" D x 18" H.
Lion dimensions: 27" W x 5" D x 14" H.
...
Category
English Victorian Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
$2,190 / set
Small Square Antique Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Nice and decorative square cast iron fireback / backsplash displaying a female figure doing laundry and other house hold chores.
Great original condition and nice patina.
Can be pla...
Category
French Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
$448 Sale Price
20% Off
Gilded 19th Century Wooden Urn-Shaped Rococo Table Lamp
Located in Copenhagen, K
This 19th century Rococo-style, gilded and painted in blue and red table lamp, featuring an decorative urn shaped body with side handles carved in wood. The lamp is raised on a squar...
Category
French Rococo Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
$777 Sale Price
44% Off
19th C. Victorian Aesthetic Movement Cast Iron Widows Walk Fence Garden Element
By Fiske Or Mott
Located in New York, NY
Unusually long Victorian Widows Walk fence fragment, made in the USA, circa 1880’s, constructed of cast iron.
Perfect to repurpose as a decorative garden ...
Category
American Aesthetic Movement Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
19th Century Very Rare Large Dutch White Porcelain Tile Stove
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
This is a one-off tile stove made by the Martin company, located in Zeist.
The company was part of the still existing Hernhutters.
In its current cond...
Category
Dutch Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Porcelain
Antique fireplace of french limestone in style of Campagnarde, 19th century
By Rustic Design
Located in Made, NL
Very nice rustic mantelpiece of gray marble stone. A mantelpiece with few ornaments, but with beautiful lines and slightly curved legs. This mantelpiece in Campagnarde style is from ...
Category
French Other Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Limestone
Pair of Massive Antique Arch Form Doors
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A pair of antique doors with arched and paneled design with remnants of old green and other encrusted paint. The doors do have some old hinges an...
Category
Rustic Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
$8,000 / set
19th Century Carved Neo-Classical Style Capitals, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of large scale neo- classical style 19th century painted capitals. This continental pair do have some chippiness to the paint.
Category
European Neoclassical Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
$2,076 Sale Price / set
33% Off
Small Sint Anne Marble Bolection Fireplace Mantel
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Small Sint Anne Marble Bolection fireplace mantel.
A very nice and delictae square bolection fireplace executed in Sint Anne marbl...
Category
Dutch Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
19th Century Wrought and Cast Iron Illuminated Neo-Gothic Overdoor
Located in Hastings, GB
One of the most outstanding pieces of ironwork we have ever seen, truly a one off spectacular mid-19th century iron overdoor, sourced from a Scottish estate this bespoke overdoor exp...
Category
Scottish Gothic Revival Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
19th Century Hand Painted Wood Puto Architectural Element
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
1850 Carved polchromed and gilt wood puto architectural element
Category
Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Giltwood
Antique Marble Fireplace Arabescato Marble 19th Century Monumental
Located in Made, NL
Exceptional, impressive and monumental 19th century antique fireplace surround in beautiful Arabescato marble.
The carving is in superb quality showing the high standard and exceptional craftsmanship of its sculpturer. This unique antique chimneypiece mantle is a one in its kind
The style of this antique mantle...
Category
French Louis XV Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Gilt Lion Ring Handled Bridle Hitch
Located in New York, NY
Gilt lion ring handled bridle hitch. Antique metal lion equestrian ring handle mask for hitching horses. American 19th century
Dimensions: 4.75" diameter x 2.5” deep ; 6” to bottom...
Category
American Neoclassical Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Metal
Monumental Pair of Italian Neoclassical Marble Columns
Located in Rome, IT
This outstanding pair of yellow "Breccia di Siena" precious Doric marble columns raised on a white Carrara marble square base with a large molded socle above. Finely carved iconic Io...
Category
Italian Neoclassical Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
19th C. Terracotta Lion Head Regency Style Building Garden Architectural Element
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th C. Terracotta Lion Head Regency Style Building Garden Architectural Elements. Items are decorated with finely cast lion heads, stylized Fleur-de-lis and scroll work, and beautif...
Category
Unknown Regency Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
19th Century Wrought Iron Lunette or Fan Light
Located in Baltimore, MD
Arched ironwork features landed and riveted components. Metal work is structurally sound with no losses.
Category
Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Pair Of 19th Century Pilasters
Located in Ongar, GB
Matching pair of original late 19th century Interior fluted oak Pilasters. With iconic Greek Capitals.
Please contact us for a worldwide shipping quote
Category
British Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Oak
Antique Fireback, Small and Decorative
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
A nicely decorated gem of a fireback or backsplash, displaying a monkey and cat playing in a fireplace mantel.
Hollow casted so its relatively light, would make a great wall decor...
Category
French Louis XVI Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
$544 Sale Price
20% Off
Selection of eight restored 19th C Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Windows
Located in Leuven , BE
The Color Experience: Stained-glass windows
“Color is a power which directly influences the soul” (Wassili Kandinsky, Moskou 1866 – Neuilly-sur-Seine, 1944)
“Color! What a deep and mysterious language, the language of dreams!” (« La couleur ! Quelle langue profonde et mystérieuse, le langage des rêves », Paul Gauguin, Paris, 1848-Fatu-Hiva, 1903)
‘Color and feeling’, ‘color and meaning’, these are concepts that have gone together since time immemorial. Artists and craftsmen have a special bond with color. After all, it is a means of expression that can have a real reinforcing effect. Especially linking color with light offers unlimited possibilities. Glaziers and glass painters have tried to master both these ‘instruments’ for centuries.
The set of beautifully restored neo-Gothic windows in our collection are enough reason for us to let these works of art figure in a broader story. As a bonus, we would like to introduce you to the contemporary stained-glass artist and stained-glass restorer, Daniël Theys. whose workshop is in Sint-Pieters-Rode (Belgium). He talked to us about the materials and techniques he used for the restoration of our set of neo-Gothic stained-glass windows. A fascinating look at the tricks of the trade from a specialist!
A bird’s eye view of the history of the European stained-glass window.
Although the Romans already used translucent glass plates to cover wall openings, the stained-glass window reached its peak in Europe between 1150 and 1500. A period also known as the era of the cathedrals. At that time, stained-glass windows became more than just a way to let in the light, and to keep the space closed off. From now on, their functionality was also found in their didactic value. The biblical and saints’ stories that adorned the stained-glass windows became a kind of poor man’s bible. They brought, as it were, the knowledge of the holy scriptures in an understandable, pictorial way. At the same time, the colored light provided additional symbolism. The invading light was interpreted as a manifestation of God. It is also no coincidence that the main altar was bathed in light. It was the place where the most important sacrament was celebrated, that of the Eucharist. How were these magical colors obtained? Well, during the 12th and 13th centuries, metal oxides gave color to the glass. Copper, for example, produced different colors in the various stages of oxidation. The metal could color the glass light blue, green and even red. It should be noted that from the 13th century onwards, clear glass, which was cheaper and at the same time allowed more light into the buildings, was used more often. A century later, in the years 1400 to 1500, glass painters frequently painted onto the glass with a ‘stain’ of silver chloride or sulfide. The painted piece of glass was heat-treated in a furnace. The heating process ensured that the silver ions migrated into the glass and became suspended within the glass network. The stain gave colors ranging from a pale yellow to a rather deep red. This new technique allowed glaziers to get more than one color on a single glass fragment. The shades produced by painting in silver chloride were well suited for depicting golden crowns, scepters and other gilded objects and ornaments. But the most important advantage of the technique was the fact that the glass painter could now make transitions from yellow tones to white without having to apply separations with lead strips! This also improved the legibility of the pictured scene.
You can imagine that the labor-intensive process of the production of stained-glass windows was a very costly affair and therefore it was often patrons who donated them to a church or a chapel. The benefactors were usually eager to propagate their social status and were moved by concern for their salvation.
In the 16th century, stained-glass windows also began to appear in secular buildings such as town halls, the homes of the wealthy and commercial premises such as inns. It is striking that during this period the use of lead strips that border many parts of the image was further reduced in favor of real painting on stained glass. This was due to an increasing love of detail. For example, one wanted realistically painted portrait heads. Working with enamel paints was cumbersome. Each newly applied color had to be burned into the glass before another color or overpainting could be applied. It was not only the coloring of the glass that was complicated, the process of obtaining flat glass plates required many steps as well. The glazier blew a glass bulb with a blowpipe and then cut it open. Finally, each half of the sphere was turned around so fast that it became a disc. In later periods, the glazier blew out his glass bulb into a cylinder. Once the cylinder had cooled, its closed ends were removed, and the long sides were cut open. The pieces of glass obtained were then heated and flattened. During the 16th century, there was a division of labor between the stained-glass designer, the glazier, and the glass painter. It happened as well that the stained-glass artist used prints as models for his stained-glass windows. Whoever drew the design, the glazier always needed a model on the right scale, the so-called cartoon. On the cartoon, the lead strips were clearly marked, and the use of colors was indicated. Contracts at the time show that the price of stained-glass windows was calculated per square foot. The price per square foot included the labor and material costs. The price of the cartoon was not included.
In the 17th century, the work of glass painters remained important. At the same time, there was a growing popularity of stained-glass windows with heraldic themes. In the Low Countries there were several high-quality glass painters active.
During the 18th century, glass painting went downhill in our regions. The French occupation of the Southern Netherlands resulted in the destruction and sale of religious stained-glass windows.
It was only around the middle of the 19th century that the young Belgian state experienced a revival of stained glass. The renewed interest in the Middle Ages, the so-called ‘gothic revival’, caused a wave of restoration of old stained-glass windows of churches and orders for neo-gothic stained-glass windows. The Sint-Lucas art schools in Belgium played an important role in this. Industrial developments in the glass and steel industries naturally had an important hand in the popularity of stained-glass windows. Stained-glass had a wide range of uses; think of stained glasses in winter gardens, domes, windows, and doors of large mansions. Significant glazier’ studios arose in several larger Belgian cities. In Brussels, for example, you had the workshops of Capronnier and Colpaert, in Bruges the studios of Coucke and Dobbelaere, in Ghent the companies of Ganton-Defoin or Ladon. During the 19th century, glaziers followed the style developments in the visual arts. For example, the number of windows in Art Nouveau and Art Deco style is large. The restored stained-glass windows with male and female saints that we offer for sale, come from a building in Laeken, near Brussels. They probably decorated the space of a church, chapel, convent, or Catholic school. In the results of the interview with glass restorer Daniël Theys, you will learn more about the particularities of these splendid windows.
Chatting and browsing in the workshop of Daniël Theys
The Belgian Glass restorer and glass blower, Daniël Theys (), made a career switch at a later age and has been active in the profession since 1987. He is an important player in the field of stained-glass window art in Belgium. Moreover, he is the only one in the country who still masters the technique of glass etching. Daniël Theys receives many commissions from small parish churches to restore old stained-glass windows to their former glory. He made a name for himself in that niche and that is how Spectandum brought the set of 19th century stained glass windows to his workshop for reconstruction. They were delivered in old numbered wooden crates and Daniel had to start puzzling.
Numbered wooden crates with sections of the stained-glass windows
Normally a glazier starts working from a drawing with a scale of 1:1 (full size drawing), but in this case each piece had to be cataloged and photographed. The smaller pieces were grouped on the light box and photographed in their entirety. Then Daniël made a drawing of the remaining pieces that he had puzzled together with great care.
Smaller pieces identified and grouped on the light box
The restauration guidelines of the Agency for Monuments and Landscapes are not always the same as those of a restorer. For this reconstruction, Daniël primarily considered the purpose of the stained-glass windows. It had to be an aesthetic and salable set of stained-glass windows, so the choice of filling the gaps with neutral glass or epoxy was not really an option. Theys left well-executed previous restorations untouched. The windows may have been repaired three or four times in the past.
Piece of a cloak with glass shards from different periods (restorations)
Another problem Daniel faced during the restoration was the fact that some small parts of the old grisaille had been eaten away by microorganisms. The defect – caused by moisture – can be seen from the discoloration of the grisaille. The black-brown color is turned red.
This fragment shows well how the brown grisaille has turned red due to the attack of micro-organisms
The stained-glass windows of the 19th century are made of ‘in the mass-colored’ glass. This means that the colors were added to the liquid glass during its production process. This type of glass differs from glass colored with enamel paint, which became popular from the interwar period. The latter process involves applying enamel paint (this is a glass powder with a metal oxide to which a medium has been added) to the colorless glass. When firing the glass with the enamel paint, the powder fuses with the glass. The colors of email painted glass are less intense and less brilliant than those of ‘in the mass-colored glass’.
Jars with colored powder for the enamel paints
For the restoration Daniël only worked with mouth-blown glass, both with ‘in the mass-colored glass’ and with ‘verre plaqué’. This is blown glass composed of several layers of different shades. Over the years, Theys built up a large stock of old blown glass. Colored blown glass always has sliding shades. For example, a red piece of glass can have a color transition from bright red to light orange. These differences in shades are the result of the different thicknesses of the piece of glass. It allows the glazier to use a wide variety of shades.
The purple-red foliage with light blue accents was obtained by etching away parts of a piece ‘verre plaqué’. A small part of the lower glass layer is exposed.
The windows were completely re-leaded by the restorer because there was virtually no ‘lead net’ preserved. In general, lead strips only have a limited lifespan because of oxidation processes. Daniël removed the old lead remnants and placed new lead profiles. Then he applied putty between the glass fragments and the lead strips to seal the lead. A window must be made watertight. The current condition of the windows is excellent.
Decorative glass part with original lead remnants
New lead strip
The set of stained-glass windows we present today, originally consisted of windows of 5 to 6 m high. After all, they originally adorned a neo-gothic church. Since the original dimensions are not suitable for private buildings, it was decided to only restore the figurative representation.
The original spire of one of the windows
Thanks to a suspension eye, the window can be hung. There is also the possibility to place the window in an upright position.
Thanks to the craftsmanship of the Theys-Studio, we can once again enjoy the brilliance of color!
Looking for the missing link
The set of 19th-century stained-glass windows came into the possession of Spectandum without a clear provenance. The renowned Leuven antiques dealer, Cornelius Engelen, recalls that the windows came from a church in Laeken. There is no solid starting point for a search for the provenance. Based on the style of the stained-glass windows – most probably the late 19th century -, their religious iconography, and their original shape (pointed arch windows) and dimensions (5 to 6 cm high), we can assume that they were once displayed in a (neo-)gothic cult building. On the one hand, the stained-glass windows may have been removed after storm damage or other calamities, on the other they may have been taken away during a renovation or a demolition of a church. The Church of Our Lady in Laeken is the most famous church building in that municipality that could qualify. In the early 1920s, the central windows of the transept were badly damaged by a hurricane. Today, glass fragments of these windows (dating from 1893-1894) with the names of the sixteen missing saints and an arch infill of the western window are officially known. It would be interesting to find out if our set of eight saints once were part of the transept of Our Lady in Laeken. Research in the records of the church administrators could provide clarification. Knowing that most neo-gothic stained-glass windows from the Church of Our Lady come from the Jules Dobbelaere’s glass studio in Bruges, it is useful to consult that company’s archive as well. It is kept in the KADOC (Documentation and research center for religion, culture and; in Leuven. Of course, the sizes and shape of the stone window openings of the transept can also provide an indication. If we stylistically compare the grisailles of the set of stained-glass windows with the work of Jules Dobbelaere, we do see some relationship. Especially with a stained-glass window in the chapel of Our Lady of the Saint Anthony Church in Aalst.
Another line of research that we could follow, is that of the iconography of the series. One of the saints depicted is Saint Roch. There once was a Saint-Roch church in Laeken with 19th-century stained-glass windows from the Brussels studio of Jean-Baptiste Capronnier. The company archive of the glaziers François and Jean-Baptiste Capronnier is owned by the Flemish government and can be consulted in the above-mentioned KADOC. We already searched the sales catalog of 1892, in which Capronnier’s drawings and cartoons are described one by one. The saints that are represented in our set of windows, does not correspond with the names of the saints mentioned for the church of St. Roch in Laeken. Building on this argument, it can be concluded that the eight saints were not destined for this house of worship.
In the absence of lavishly illustrated monographs on the various glazier-companies in Belgium, the execution of a comparative study of the stained-glass windows is time-consuming and complex. Although a limited number of old photos of stained-glass windows can still be found in the database ‘Balat’ of the KIK-IRPA (), this remains far too limited to get a good picture of the output of the various companies.
19th C, Saint, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with Saint Martin, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Most people know Saint Martin (Szombathely, ca. 316 – Candes, 397) as the Roman Tribune who cut his cloak in two with his sword and gave one half to a beggar. The artist of the stained-glass window has opted for a different, less common iconographic representation here. Saint Martin is presented as a bishop with a miter and staff. According to a legend, Martin was lured to the city of Tours with a trick to consecrate him as a bishop. He refused the ecclesiastical office and hid in a barn with some geese. The birds betrayed him with their twittering. In the end Martin received his episcopal consecration. The goose at the feet of the saint clearly refers to this event.
19th C, Saint, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with St. Angela, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Angela de Merici was an Italian woman who taught young women religion, health care, and household skills. She founded the monastic community of the Ursulines. They played an important social role as founders of schools and orphanages. Saint Angela died in Brescia in 1540. It should therefore come as no surprise that the saint on the stained-glass-window is depicted with
a girl by her side.
19th C, Saint, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with Charles Borromeo, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Charles Borromeo (Milan, 1538-1584) grew up in a noble family. He was already made Cardinal and Archbishop of Milan at the age of 24. With his writings he contributed to the implementation of the Church reforms determined at the Council of Trent. Among other things, he released a new catechism. With his book on the design of church buildings, “Instructiones Fabriacae et Supellectilis Ecclesiasticae”, he left a mark on Baroque church construction. At the outbreak of the plague in his diocese in 1576, he devoted himself to the care of those affected. Hence, people sometimes pray to him when they have been hit by a serious illness.
19th C, Saint, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with St. Roch, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Saint Roch (Montpellier, 1295? /1350? -1327? /1380?) was born with a port-wine stain in the shape of a cross on his left hip. It was interpreted as a sign from God. After the dead of his parents, he gave his money to the poor and went on to live the life of pilgrim. He cared for plague sufferers and healed some of them by making a sign of the cross. He is especially invoked as protector against the plague.
19th C, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
Bernard of Clairvaux (Fontaines, 1090-Clairvaux, 1153) decided to become a monk at the age of 21. In 1112 he entered in the monastery of Cîtaux. He was soon commissioned by the abbot to find a new monastery in Clairvaux. Because of his intellectual capacities and eloquence, he was consulted by various ecclesiastical and secular leaders. He ensured the expansion of the Cistercian order throughout Europe. As a Doctor of the Church, he wrote many tracts and sermons and established a new rule for the Templars. Above all, he was concerned with the discipline of the clergy. Therefore, he wrote a spiritual manual for the priests and bishops. Saint Bernard can be seen as a true mystic. He envisioned the union of the human soul with God as the most important goal in life. According to a legend, Bernard once had a vision in which the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and strengthened him with her mother’s milk. In the arts, the saint is mainly depicted with an abbot’s staff and a book with the Cistercian rule. His vision was also often portrayed.
19th C, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with St. John Berchmans, Belgium, 163 x 73 cm
The Belgian Jan Berchmans (Diest, 1599-Rome, 1621) was the eldest of five children. When his mother became seriously ill, he initially took care of her, but at the age of nine he was housed with the town’s priest. After a few years he moved to Mechelen to become the servant of a canon. It also gave him the opportunity to begin his studies in the seminary for priests. He eventually joined the Jesuits of Mechelen. He got their permission to study philosophy in Rome. In the Eternal City, he visited working-class neighbourhoods to teach the children about God. He died of an illness at the age of 22. Saint Jan Berchmans is the patron saint of school children and students.
19th C, Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Window with Saint Clare...
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Belgian Gothic Revival Antique 19th Century Architectural Elements
Materials
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