A beautifully illustrated guide to the world of Victorian stained glass and its manufacturers and designers. Victorian stained glass - magnificent, colourful and artistic - adorns countless British churches, municipal buildings and homes. Across the decades, several artistic movements influenced these designs, from the Gothic Revival, through the Arts and Crafts Movement and into Art Nouveau as a new century dawned. Historian Trevor Yorke shows how craftsmen re-learned the lost medieval art of colouring, painting and assembling stained glass windows - but also, in this age of industry, how windows were templated and mass produced. Showcasing the exquisite glass generated by famous designers such as A.W.N. Pugin, Pre-Raphaelites William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, and by leading manufacturers such as Clayton and Bell, this beautifully illustrated book introduces the reader to many wonderful examples of Victorian stained glass and where it can be found.

A beautifully illustrated guide to the world of Victorian stained glass and its manufacturers and designers.

The glorious architecture of Victorian Britain gained much of its luster from the colorful stained glass which embellished the windows of cathedrals, churches and country houses. Inspired by the designs of medieval artisans, leading designers such as A.W.N. Pugin and William Morris used innovative techniques to produce colored and painted glass that complemented the architectural opulence of the Gothic Revival. These decorative artworks record contemporary beliefs and morals, indicative of the mind set of those who commissioned and executed them. Such was the impact of these new stained-glass patterns that companies mass produced cheaper imitations which were fitted in the doors and windows of offices, public buildings and thousands of middle-class terraced homes.

This beautiful book introduces the reader to many wonderful examples of Victorian stained glass and where it can be found. It outlines the development of the craft, the leading designers and manufacturers, how the windows were made and the details which can help identify the date and style of a piece.

An enjoyable read, it also feels as though it would act as a guide - highlighting favoured designs, colours and subjects from each period - enabling you to look forward to putting your new-found knowledge into use the next time you find yourself gazing on a stained glass window.