Thursday 29 November 2012

Presentation Trophies


I've recently finished four glass trophies - gold, silver and bronze - with one for a special award.

This is them on the table at the presentation.  They still have to get their bases as they were commissioned only two weeks before the presentation.  



They will be finished off with wood bases having a plaque with the winners' names.

Monday 26 November 2012

Golf Clubs and Windows Don't Mix

They don't mix even when they are plastic and swung by three-year olds.  Only one pane was shattered, but because the came is so narrow, the whole window had to come out.


The shattered pane is to the left and below the bottom left rondel in the right hand panel.

Now the difficulty is finding a lightly tinted green glass to match so the whole subtle arrangement of tinted glass is maintained.

Saturday 17 November 2012

Lincoln Cathedral Conservation

Reports have reached me that the conservation of medieval windows in Lincoln Cathedrals below the "Bishop's Eye" window will begin in 2013.
A press report is here

Tom Kupper gives additional information for people more involved with stained glass:

"Proposed conservation of four medieval stained glass windows at Lincoln Cathedral

Considering the environmental impact and vulnerability of unprotected medieval glass attention has now been turned on the conservation and preservation of four medieval lancet windows underneath the magnificent Bishops Eye rose window in the south west transept of Lincoln Cathedral, England.

The Lincoln cathedral glazing department has visually monitored these historic windows for several years in terms of deterioration and the rate of corrosion. After a routine survey it was found that the glass is continuing to decay and not being protected from the external environment by a protective glazing system the historic glass is baring the full brunt of the Lincolnshire weather, airborne corrosive pollutants and lately some mindless vandalism. So much so that one of the medieval lancets has been the subject to some mayor damage in 2008 with an intruder breaking out of the cathedral smashing a sizeable hole through the historic glass.

This laughable action has brought the four lancets firmly back into focus and a condition survey of the windows was carried out.

In assessing the vandal damage the glazing department swiftly established that any restoration cannot just deal with the damaged panel in isolation and one ought to consider conserving the entire lancet. Which in turn highlighted the fact that once the conservation project is off the ground the other three reaming lancets also need to be taken into consideration and bought into a program too? The glazing department is now proposing, for the four medieval windows underneath the Bishops Eye rose to go through a full conservation and preservation cycle which, because of its complexity, could last up to 4 years with an estimated total cost of £550 000.


However, before the windows can undergo the conservation processes there are several key issues which we need to be discussed before a conservation policy can be writing.

1. Restoration of the vandal damage within the central area in one of the lancets.

2. Conserve the four medieval lancets, the historic ferramenta and the original oak timber frames and keeping the three elements together.

3. Establish a pre & post monitoring research program by investigating the environmental conditions in and around the area of the windows.

4. Protect the lancets with an internally ventilated glazing system and finding a visually acceptable external finish for the protective glass.

5. Form an Anglo-German research partnership to investigating the chemical makeup of the historic glass and to search for appropriate cleaning techniques specifically designed for the four lancets.

These five key points all raise of course several more separates philosophical and ethical issues which need to be further addressed by the Dean and Chapter’s approval committees before the project becomes live in 2013."

Thursday 15 November 2012

Parade Artists' Christmas Show

The following images show some of the items that will be on display during the weekends of 24-25 November and 1-2 December.


In addition there will be felted works, cards and jewellery.  Refreshments by Supper in Suburbia.  I hope you can come to see the wide variety of work.

Wednesday 14 November 2012

Christmas Shows

After some hesitation, I will be joining in the Parade Artists Christmas Show.

This show will include ceramics, textiles, fine art, cards, glass and various forms of jewellery.  Supper in Suburbia will be doing the food and refreshments again this Christmas - worth coming for them alone!
I hope I will see a number of you there.