A Mystery !!!
Dimensions: approximately 4' wide x 7' high, arched
Location: Denton, TX
Background: The Stanfield Masonic Lodge #217 was founded in 1857, and chartered granted in 1858. The organization originally shared their building with the first public school in Denton. They moved into the upstairs floor of a new building on the square (the building later became a department store; it is now an indoor mini-mall) in the 1880's. In the 1920's they constructed a 3-story building on Locust Street on the site which is now occupied by the Wells-Fargo Bank parking garage. In 1961 they built their current lodge on Highland Street. During the move into that structure, this magnificent stained glass window was discovered in the attic of the 1920's building, and carefully installed at the new building.
There are no financial or dedicatory records concerning this window in the lodge's records. There are no studio markings on it, as far as I can tell. The window is in extrodinarily excellent condition: no bowing; no lead fatigue; no paint chipping; no loss of putty; no oxidation. Only two panes are broken, and that probably occured during one of it's moves. A piece of ancient tape covers one broken piece. One shard has been lost. Otherwise, even the broken pieces are in excellent condition. This window looks as if it were made last year.
When was this window made? Our best guess is between 1890 and 1926? - more likely towards the 1920's since the right side of the window has symbols associated with a part of the lodge not chartered until the 1920's. Every single piece of glass in this window has extensive enameling and/or staining. The cobalt blue enamelsin the curtains behind the central figure are exceptionally thick. You can see and feel knife marks as the blue layer of paint was cut through to reveal the white glass underneith.
Where was this window made? The curator guesses it was manufactured on the East Coast USA. It reminds me of the work of Nicoli D'Ascenzo from Philadelphia, but that is only my guess, since it seems similar to some of the windows in the George Washington Memorial Chapel on the grounds of Valley Forge, PA National Park.
**Updated 11/12/05** Valerie McCartney from Full Spectrum Stained Glass, Inc. passes along that this might be a window by Von Gerichtens; not D'Ascenzo. Thank you, Valerie!
Does anyone recognize the artist/studio who did this magnificent panel? Can anyone help us out? Contact Christie A. Wood, Art Glass Ensembles, Denton, TX email: Art Glass Ensembles, or Bob Gilbert, Stanfield Lodge, 1300 Ave. C, Denton, TX 76205. Thank you!