A New Old Window for Robert Street
This project began with two abandoned windows which were once on Major Street. Salvaged from the trash, they survived in garages for a few years before I got my hands on them.
The new window was to be just one window, but much larger. Instead of being parts of a bay window, they were to become a grand window over the front door.
This gave me a game to play. I gave myself some rules. I resovled to remain very close to my Victorian models in adding to the pretty panel, but to disobey Victorianism in the border. Instead of expanding the Victorian design, I would mount it in clear glass like a drawing in a matte. I did this because otherwise the loss of light in the room behind would be too much.
I added new wings, using a grid pattern that was common in the same style as my originals. This design worked well, but required scavenging the second window for the rare reds and greens. These colours could not be matched today, so Window Two played an essential role in the design. Then I floated it in open space and checked the proportions. Then I proposed it to my clients. Th
This window has my favourite bird. This is like a fairy-tale bird. It does not exist in nature, and it’s very ill-tempered.
Its breast (in pink enamel!) is in rarely grand condition. The background painting is unusually loose, and maybe there has been some loss of blue.
The underlying glass, as is usual, is yellow, soft, and full of flaws.
When I took the windows apart and cleaned it all,
I ended up with the prettiest set of tiles in the world.
I love playing with glass.
I added two major elements to the design. I designed new wings, with a checker pattern that is standard for 1895. Mine uses a later form of pink, but against the sky it matches the purple jewels.
I scavenged the second window to get the pieces to manage this. Those jewels are more rare than diamonds now. I will never see other ones.
Then I added the clear frame, which is my invention here.
