What should we do with these?
October 5, 2010
We are still finding interesting things in the building. Usually it happens when we are giving tour, we’ll see something we missed before. This time it was stained glass scraps. I noticed the glass before, wrapped in brown paper in the basement cable vault. For the first time, I picked the up and really looked at them. They are pieces of painted colored glass that would have been made in large batches to be used in borders of church windows.
Orange painted glass
There are a few different colors and shapes. They don’t appear to fit together. Most of the glass is very dark, so you can’t see the painting unless there is very bright light behind it. These were photographed by holding the piece up to the sun. If they are all placed side by side, they would about cover a 2’x2′ area, maybe a little more.
Glass scraps
I have to throw in a history bit: Mr Opplinger told me this style of stained glass is called the Munich Style, which was very popular up through the 1950’s. The Jacoby Art Glass firm was recognized as one of the leaders in this style. Mr. Meyer, a German immigrant that came to the US to escape Hitler, was the designer and worked in a room on NE corner of the first floor in what we call the Kodak room. Mr. Dickson painted the glass. He worked in the room where we are building the apartment. The second floor is where the windows were assembled.
Green painted glass
So, what should we do with these pieces of glass?
Find a local stained glass artist to make a piece that you can hang in your place once the upstairs is done…you have a lot of windows!
Maybe combine them with Tom’s devil sticks, in a way to bring balance to the universe?
Dave – Speaking of devil sticks, have you heard of the new movie being touted as a documentary? http://www.thehauntedboy.com (Sorry, getting off topic…)
Not heard of it until now… spooky. Wonder if the excocist still holds up. I haven’t seen since I was much too young to have been watching it.
Perhaps Christmas tree ornaments, if they aren’t too heavy? You could clean them up and send them off to those of us far away, as a little piece of your project for us to admire. The other suggestions are good ones, too!
p.s. The green one looks like it should be Batman’s throwing star.
I think Tom could get behind having his own Bat-gear!
I’m picturing a light fixture of some type. Maybe with pieces hanging loose like a mobile around a bright central point with a plain white cover so you don’t see a bare bulb.
Perhaps you could find a stained glass artist in your area to gently clean and use your found elements to make you a window for the building? It shouldn’t hurt them, maybe try soaking a smaller piece in mild soap and water. The decorative color elements were fired onto the surface of this handmade glass in a kiln… so it should be all right unless the window itself went through a fire which could then compromise the strength and integrity of this coating. The fact that you found them in a vault and they are dark makes me wonder if these pieces have more of a story to tell than we are imagining. Very cool! I love hearing about the history of the place. Thanks for sharing. Here’s link for you with some more history, check it out…
http://www.tropicalsails.com/jacobyoppliger/
Jewelry is always a good idea!
You should offer at least a few of the scraps to your crazy, eclectic friends who will decorate their homes and offices with them. I can’t b . elieve Sue hasn’t yet made a lovely pair of ear rings from them. They would probably make a nice mobile but that may be too simple for y’all.