Episode 4: The Winchester Mystery House Is Now a Little Less Mysterious

We are researching the life and work of John Mallon. You can visit the Table of Contents here.

Are you one of the millions of people who have visited the Winchester Mystery House? If your answer is “yes”, you have probably observed some beautiful stained glass windows throughout the house, like the one pictured below.

Image courtesy of Rachel Wong | Santa Clara University Digital Exhibits

For those unfamiliar with the famous turn-of-the-20th-century house, its owner, Sarah Winchester, was particularly creative in its development. Legend has it that Sarah, mourning the loss of her daughter and husband, was compelled to build endlessly, haunted by spirits. In the process, her house in San Jose, California, turned out a bit odd, with staircases and doors leading to nowhere, superfluous rooms and spaces, and other strange building features.

Note the door to nowhere (flanked by the beautiful stained glass windows). Image courtesy of Nathan Lamoreau | Santa Clara University Digital Exhibits

If Sarah was a bit “out there”, she also had incredible taste with a matching pocketbook. She hired teams of talented artisans who designed and manufactured beautiful decorations for her house, an eccentric ode to Aestheticism. And as typical, unless the accounting books remain, it’s not easy to identify the skilled craftspeople who built and decorated Sarah’s mansion.

So for more than 100 years, the home’s extensive collection of stained glass windows remained anonymous. Finally, someone started looking into the matter, coincidentally around the same time we started this blog. Hundreds of miles away, in Victoria, Canada, a historian sought to identify the maker of stained glass windows at a Victorian-era mansion called Craigadarroch Castle. He soon found a connection to the Winchester windows. The design similarities were uncanny. On detailed review it became clear that whoever created the Winchester windows must have also created the windows for Craigadarroch Castle. But who?

That answer came almost immediately after the connection was realized. Back at the Winchester House, in a room undergoing restoration, an old envelope floated from an opened wall and onto the floor. On the front of the envelope was a return address for the Pacific American Decorative Co. in San Francisco, California. At the time this occurred, we were in contact with one of the artisans working on the restoration project. He approached us curious to know if we had any context for the envelope. We knew immediately that the company was one of Mallon’s! Little did we know that others were already working on this mystery and that the Mallon connection would have even greater meaning.

The envelope. The “Memorial Windows” image represents an actual memorial window that Mallon built for Leland Stanford to memorialize the loss of Stanford’s son. It is located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Sacramento, California. Image courtesy of Winchester Mystery House.

We were soon connected to the Winchester house historian, Janan Boehme, who excitedly confirmed our deduction. She also invited us to a special tour of the house which took us into parts not on the standard tour. And on top of that, we got to hold the mysterious envelope (in its protective sleeve, of course)!

In the process of this tour we experienced Mallon’s work like never before. In one part of the house, every window was leaded and bejeweled so that during the day it sparkled like a jewel box. Many windows had the classic floral, foliate, rope, and web patterns that Mallon favored. We also recognized the same glass that he used for other projects.

As exciting as it was to be among so many Mallon windows, the serendipity of the mysterious envelope and the connection to Craigdarroch Castle made this experience all the more special. Is Sarah smiling to herself from the afterlife? Perhaps she can rest easier knowing that she brought beauty to the world through her unbridled creativity. We highly recommend visiting the house so you can ask her yourself!

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/winchester-mystery-house-windows-true-facts-14444695.php

On Site: Chagall Windows at Zurich's Fraumünster Church

Section of “The Christ Window”, one of five Chagall windows depicting Biblical interpretations at Fraumünster Church in Zurich, Switzerland; Courtesy: flickr/@jay8085

We recently took a trip to Switzerland where, between chocolate and cheese, we managed to squeeze in a visit to Fraumünster Church in Zurich’s Old Town. Our reason for the visit was to see first-hand the beautiful stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.

The green spire belongs to Fraumünster Church. You can see the Chagall windows to the left of the spire, like three fingers. Lucas Glass Design + Restoration

Built on the remains of a 9th century abbey, Fraumünster means Women’s Minister. It’s location came to be when two princess sisters witnessed a white stag with burning antlers. When their father, the king, refused to believe them, a piece rope fell from the sky in precisely the location of the future abbey. The green-spired church was augmented over the centuries, including the addition of five windows and a rosette by Marc Chagall.(1)

The church is open to visitors for a small fee that can be applied toward entry to Zurich’s Kunsthaus. Unfortunately, at the time of our trip, visitors were not allowed to take pictures inside the church.

The overcast skies created a light box effect for the windows which meant there were no shadows or hot spots, allowing the full impact of Chagall’s brilliance.

Three of five Chagall windows depicting Biblical interpretations at Fraumünster Church in Zurich, Switzerland; Courtesy: flickr/@jay8085

We previously reflected on Chagall’s windows in other installations and this one at Fraumünster Church does not disappoint. Chagall is most renowned for painting and illustration but he also delved into the medium of stained glass, and in fact utilized a very detailed process for achieving his particular glass aesthetic. Chagall created works in glass for both Jewish and Christian institutions evoking his mystical and evocative imagery in this historic medium.

The experience of seeing the glass in real life was, as you can imagine, much different than seeing it in a picture. However seeing his work in any way possible is the name of the game, even if it’s just on a screen.

The five windows convey the following stories(2):

The Prophet’s Window, with Elijah carried away to heaven
The Law Window in which Moses holds the commandments while overseeing disobedience among his people
The Jacob Window, with Jacob dreaming of the ladder
The Zion Window, depicting King David and the descent of Jerusalem from heaven to earth
The Christ Window, illustrating the life of Jesus

Prior to Chagall undertaking the project, restoration of the church chancel had already begun along with the idea to install colored glass in the five windows.(2) Yet the congregation was unable to find a suitable artist. Soon thereafter in 1967 the nearby Kunsthaus featured an exhibition of Chagall’s work. Was it serendipity? Enough congregants had personally witnessed other Chagall stained glass devotionals to see the possibility. Once the artist himself experienced the church interior he was sold.

As with previous projects, Chagall partnered with Charles Marq to execute the process of coloring, firing, assembling, painting, re-firing, caning, and installing the glass artwork. Labor intensive to say the least, Chagall was 83 years old when he undertook the endeavor. And as with the artist, the process produced a depth like no other.

Reference:

https://www.ancient.eu/Fraumunster/
“Chagall’s Windows in the Fraumünster” by Irmgard Vogelsanger-de Roche

Beautiful Features: Toluca's Cosmovitral Botanical Garden

About an hour’s drive from Mexico City, in the city of Toluca, there is a botanical garden that heavily features stained glass murals to the point that the garden plays second fiddle. This Cosmovitral Botanical Garden was at one time an enclosed marketplace. When the market closed down it was converted to a botanical garden and filled with giant installations of stained glass.

By Lexaxis7 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Naturally decisions like this do not come easily. In fact the city’s leadership grappled over the future of the building that housed the marketplace. With its art deco design and prominent metal and glass roof, the building seemed destined for a second life of accessible beauty in spite of proponents’ arguments for privatization or demolition. Finally, a man named Leopoldo Flores stepped in. Already an internationally known artist, Flores had the vision to infuse new life into the crumbly old building by filling it with art and stained glass. He fought for the building's future and after months of paperwork and advocacy he convinced Toluca’s mayor Yolanda Sentíes to repurpose the old marketplace accordingly.

Flores and sixty artisans worked for three years to design and combine approximately 500,000 glass pieces into the murals. Twenty eight different colors of glass were used, coming from all parts of the world. The themes depicted center on “universal dualities and antagonisms, the struggle between life and death, good and evil, day and night and creation and destruction, all shown in a cosmic continuum”. Up, down, and all around, these images surround the garden experience.

Central to the garden’s imagery is the Hombre Sol pictured below, representing mankind and marking our harmonious balance with all the forces illustrated throughout the building. Each year on the spring equinox, the sun aligns with this panel, visually setting the Hombre Sol on fire.

By Diego Callejas [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], from Wikimedia Commons

Watch this video en Español to take a virtual tour and learn more about the history of Cosmovitral Botanical Garden:

Uno de los vitrales más grandes del mundo mediante el cual su autor, Leopoldo Flores, manifiesta su visión del mundo y el origen del universo.

On Site: Mexico City’s Gran Hotel

We’ve just returned from a short trip to one of the greatest cities in the world, Mexico City AKA D.F. In just three days we spanned several major eras - from B.C.E. Teotihuacán to the Aztec’s Templo Mayor through the Colonial and Modern Ages, and finally the happening Mexico City of today. A very special treat was our visit to the Gran Hotel, famous for its massive c. 1908 Tiffany glass ceiling designed by Jacques Gruber in France.

One of the largest stained glass installations in the world, the ceiling is a series of arches, domes, and inversions. Nothing was spared on this amazing work. You’ll notice the initials “CM” showing up repetitively and possibly assume they stand for “Ciudad de Mexico”, but they don’t. Originally built in 1899 as an exclusive department store, this building was once known as El Centro Mercantil. It wasn’t until just prior to the 1968 Olympic Games that the building was converted to a hotel.

This work appears to have been restored in recent times as evidenced by the bright and sparkling colors. Thankfully the hotel is taking good care of this asset and we feel lucky to have seen it. Next time we will pause a bit longer and take advantage of their terrace overlooking the Zócalo!

Icon Shapes: Tom Fruin's Watertowers

Though a bit outside the realm of stained glass, Tom Fruin’s steel and plexiglass sculptures evoke the dazzling color and light displays inherent to the stained glass medium. These watertowers, as well as his Kolonihavehus sculpture located in Copenhagen, assert themselves architecturally, evoking shapes familiar to their surroundings that are also fanciful and fun in their play of color and light. These sculptures were supposedly temporary installations but it seems some or all are still in place. We will have to look for them the next time we are in NYC!

Windows into Alternative Realities: Multi-Dimensional Stained Glass by Brian Clarke

Keeping with the theme of modern art, we are sharing a couple videos about Brian Clarke, considered one of the greatest stained glass artists of our time. The first video covers an exhibition on his work, The Art of Light at the Sainsbury Centre. The second video is a long form documentary. Of the many gifts possessed by Clarke, one that particularly stands out is his ability to place stained glass in an architectural context, to expand glass’ utility beyond two-dimensions, and to create a sense of space which, through color and light, is not of this world. In Clarke’s words, “Art opens a window into an alternative reality.” Enjoy watching these videos and seeing stained glass in a whole new, transformative way.

Hockney's Abbey Windows | Where Modern Art, Technology, and Devotional Windows Are Having a Party

English painter David Hockney, most recently known as a prolific portraitist in addition to his use of an iPad as high art medium, recently completed a window for Westminster Abbey. Unveiled on September 26, 2018, the window was also designed using an iPad. Helen Whittacker at Barley Studio brought Hockney’s vision to life using traditional methods to translate Hockney’s playful, celebratory imagery. Commissioned in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, the window depicts hawthorne blooms representative of her love for nature as well as, in Hockney’s words, “champagne poured over everything.” Most exciting is what this window represents in terms of the nexus between modern art, technology, and devotional windows: there remains a long and diversified future for stained glass in this world!

A Case of Mistaken Identity

We are researching the life and work of John Mallon. You can visit the Table of Contents here.

Having learned of a set of circa 1889 stained glass windows at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, we sought to determine whether they were the work of Mr. John Mallon. Seeing images of the glass online we were convinced they came from his studio: colorful, whimsical, with lots and lots of jewels, they appeared to carry the signature Mallon style. So we reached out to UUSF’s Director of Communications, Jonathan Silk, who had serendipitously and very recently found an old VHS tape describing the 1983 restoration of UUSF’s sanctuary windows. Recorded in 1985, the video walks through the restoration process in its entirety, from dismantling to cleaning to rebuilding and reinstallation. You can watch the video below.

After further research on the part of Mr. Silk we determined the glass was not in fact produced by Mallon, but by the Wells Glass Company of Chicago. At this time a more extensive set of windows were procured for $2,250 (or $62,300 in 2017 dollars) and some were destroyed or sold along the way, ostensibly due to the 1906 quake and/or other projects.

Though we were displeased at finding these were not Mallon windows, it was a pleasure stumbling on this interesting video. It showcases the care and skill that goes into antique glass restoration, and also describes the beauty and interestingness of American Victorian-era stained glass. Please take a moment to check it out!

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Episode 3: Heavenly Heritage | Windows for the Dominican Sisters

We are researching the life and work of John Mallon. You can visit the Table of Contents here.

Given their age and lack of documentation, Mallon windows are not easy to find. So imagine our joy when we located what may be Mallon glass at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael.

The motherhouse stood for just over 100 years before it was heavily damaged by fire.Title: Dominican Convent, San Rafael, California, circa 1908 [postcard]Date: circa 1908Collection: General CollectionOwning Institution: Marin County Free LibrarySou… — The motherhouse stood for just over 100 years before it was heavily damaged by fire.
Title: Dominican Convent, San Rafael, California, circa 1908 [postcard]
Date: circa 1908
Collection: General Collection
Owning Institution: Marin County Free Library
Source: Calisphere
Date of access: July 28 2018 22:12
Permalink: https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt287035cv/

Built in 1889, these windows were created for the Sisters' motherhouse in San Rafael, California. Unfortunately the building was destroyed by fire in 1990 and subsequently replaced with separate convent and administrative buildings. Within the new administrative building you will find the Sisters' Heritage Room.

Please consider visiting the Heritage Room or donating to the congregation. Lovingly curated by their archivist, Sister Patricia Corr, the Heritage Room holds artifacts of the congregation's interesting and vital history, including windows possibly created by Mr. Mallon himself.

The Heritage Room is filled with cherished items saved from the heavily damaged motherhouse. On either side are the colorful, arched stained glass panels attributed to John Mallon. Previously situated in the motherhouse sacristy the windows live up to their significance: generous with color, jewels, textured roundels, and striking grisaille details, they articulate ecclesiastical patterns and Victorian order and charm all at the same time.

Tap the photos below to view the Heritage Room windows.

Heritage Room windows | © 2018 Lucas Stained Glass Design + Restoration

Visit Cappy Thompson's page to get an idea of how the artist may have achieved the windows' effects. In the case of the Sisters' windows, rather than hand painted in the grisaille fashion the bold black patterns appear stenciled onto the glass. This would have been the artist's choice of industry over artistry: given the period within the second Industrial Revolution, and that Mallon's studio likely had a substantial project pipeline, he probably developed or adopted processes - like stenciling vs. hand painting - to increase productivity. Once the stencils were applied the panes would have been kiln fired to fuse the enamel paint onto the glass. Prior to that the artist likely "stained" the glass by painting the various colors onto the panes followed by an initial firing. The artist also likely created their own roundels by firing glass in round, textured molds.

In addition to the windows in the Heritage Room there may reside another Mallon window on the Sister's property. In fact this particular window provides pretty good evidence of Mallon's work.

Oregon window from the San Diego Hall of Justice commission 1889 | Courtesy: Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

A short stroll from the Heritage Room you'll find a transom window that once graced the front entry to the old motherhouse. Here it sits for safekeeping. Interestingly this window bears some similarity to another set of Mallon windows, also produced in 1889, for the San Diego Hall of Justice. Note the foliate scrolls, jewels, and the central seal in the Sisters' window, and compare those details to the Oregon window pictured here.

Not only do they both include the jeweled and delicate foliate elements, but they also feature central seals symbolizing the windows' subjects. In the case of the motherhouse window, the seal shows the Dominican Sisters' ecclesiastical heraldry. At the center of the other window you will find a depiction of the Oregon state seal. For the Oregon window it is believed Mallon used a process he patented that same year in which image transfers were fused to the glass by kiln firing, then painted with colored enamels and fired again. Is it possible the same process was utilized for the motherhouse seal?

Determining whether windows were produced by John Mallon will continue to take some sleuth work. This visit to the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael was beneficial in potentially identifying some techniques inherent to Mallon as well as affirming his attribution. At the very least the Sisters are safeguarding some beautiful, noteworthy windows.

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Palate Refresher: Take a Tour of Villa Montezuma

As we previously wrote, John Mallon provided a number of windows for Villa Montezuma located in San Diego, California. Built in 1887 for an eccentric musician, spiritualist, and writer, the house is a nice example of Victorian decoration. Something great about this video is that it pays close attention to Mallon's windows of which there are many more than we initially thought. Please enjoy!

ETA: Four years and a pandemic later, and we finally had the opportunity to visit the enchanted Villa Montezuma! If you are in the San Diego area, we highly recommend taking a tour of this beautiful house. The glass is something to behold and a remarkable example of Mallon’s range. You can read more about the house courtesy of the Friends of the Villa Montezuma.

We are researching and sharing the life and work of John Mallon. You can access the Table of Contents here.

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Industry and Artistry in Glass - Episode 2: a Birdseye View of John Mallon's Life and Career

We are researching and sharing the life and work of John Mallon. You can visit the Table of Contents here.

Before we further proceed we should take a bird’s eye view of Mr. Mallon's life and work. Included are his commissions of which we are aware, understanding that we have significant gaps to fill. As new information comes to light we will update this page.

1828: Born in Ireland

1832: Emigrated to the United States and settled in NYC

1841: Father passed away

1843: Entered into glass-cutting apprenticeship with Joseph Stouvenel & Bros., 27 Gold Street, New York, New York

1848: Married Elizabeth Hanson

1848: Gold discovered at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California

1854: Opened a glass-cutting business on 34th between Lexington and Third Avenue, New York, New York

1858: Sold his business and set sail for the Fraser River gold fields

But meanwhile the Frazer (sic) River bubble had burst, and he landed in San Francisco only to be met with disappointment. He would have returned to New York, but the thought of having to face his friends again after the failure of his plans and his hopes was too much for him. He determined to remain in San Francisco, and began casting about for some business opening... (Morrison)

1858: Began operating a glass-cutting business in the Pioneer Flour Mill building at Market and First Streets, San Francisco, California

1859: Relocated to "more commodious quarters" (Morrison) at Chase & McDonald's Mill on Beale near Market Street, San Francisco, California, then to the Mechanics' Mill until it burned down at a considerable loss to Mallon

7/20/2018 Update: The previous citation may be incorrect. According to a July 24, 1871 Sacramento Daily Union article, a fire at the Mechanics' Mill impacted other business around the corner, namely that of "John Mallon, glass cutting establishment, Fremont street, near Mission, loss $5,000; insured for $1,000." This raises the possibility that Mallon moved to the Fremont location not because of the fire but in order to expand his operations. Regardless, the loss was indeed considerable: $5,000 in 1871 is equivalent to $100,000 in 2018.

Mallon's San Francisco: Market Street in 1865 | Courtesy: SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY — Mallon's San Francisco: Market Street in 1865 | Courtesy: SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY

The encouragement he met with in his efforts to introduce decoration on glass was at first very small indeed. The people had little taste for art, and little thought or desire for decoration of any kind. Under these circumstances Mr. Mallon set himself systematically to work to create the taste he found was lacking, to educate the public up to an appreciation of the beautiful and the artistic. He made up many samples of windows and other artistic work, and placed them all over town in situations where they could not but attract the attention of the public. (Morrison)

1869: Moved to 19 Fremont Street near Market Street, San Francisco, California

1869: Added embossing and staining capabilities and expanded to 222 and 224 Howard Street, San Francisco, California

1874: St. Peter's Episcopal Church commission, Carson City, Nevada

1879: Exhibited at the San Francisco Mechanics' Institute's Fourteenth Industrial Exhibition (you can see a stereograph of Mallon's booth in this interesting article on the history of these important exhibitions). The first took place in 1857 and once Mallon arrived in San Francisco it's likely he held a booth at nearly every subsequent fair. The following excerpt is from a report of the nineteenth exhibition that took place in 1885:

John Mallon Stained Embossed Etched Cut and Bent Glass...fairly rivaled the Music Stand and Art Gallery in its attraction of visitors the liberal allowance of space for the exhibit being almost constantly thronged by architects and persons of cultivated tastes. Each succeeding year's exhibit of the Mechanics Institute has shown a decided advance by Mr. Mallon in his important specialty and a corresponding growth in public interest for his department. The success he has achieved under the stimulus of business enterprise and correct art taste awakens no sentiment in the heart of California lower than that of pride in the "Workman and his Work". (Mechanics' Institute)

The report describes works such as "Angel of the Resurrection", "Marguerite" and "Falconer and Dog" - companion pictures that "are beautiful examples of what may be achieved by the artistic use of jewel glass," and "Transom of Glass Effects” - an eclectic arrangement of opalescent glass, jewels, cracked dishes, roundels, and antique glass.

1881: Residential commission, San Francisco, California (featured in this video)

1886: St. Peter's Catholic Church commission, San Francisco, California

1887: Villa Montezuma commission, San Diego, California (we shared a few pictures of this installation here)

1888: Presbyterian Church commission, San Diego, California

In 1888 mention was made of the "Mechanic’s Fair, where one of the most attractive displays is the exhibition of stained glass. John Mallon, designer at the Pacific Glass-Cutting Works (19 Fremont Street, San Francisco) displays a Memorial Window designed for the Presbyterian Church of San Diego, an especially handsome production." (Henderson)

The story is that the church was built at "8th and D Streets"* adjacent to the original building on land donated by Alonzo Horton. The building and furnishings cost $36,000 (nearly $1MM in 2018 dollars) and soon after the congregation nearly went into default due to San Diego's bust of the 1880's.

Additionally, in 1888 Mallon's son Peter L. was interviewed by George Morrison for the The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft (or Bancroft’s Works). Much of the notes from this interview are now being utilized for our research.

*What may be currently 8th Avenue and Broadway

1889: Dominican Sisters' Motherhouse commission, San Rafael, California

1889: Hall of Justice commission, San Diego, California

Rhode Island window from the San Diego Hall of Justice commission 1889 | Courtesy: Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

1889: Filed patent US447991A: Method of Decorating Glass and Porcelain, a chemical method of impressing an image on glass (or porcelain) then making it permanent by kiln firing

1890: Stanford Window commission, Sacramento, California

As early as 1890 Mallon started to advertise his facilities at a new address - 1211, 1213, and 1215 Howard Street in San Francisco, California - and his son Peter L. as the manager.

1891: Immanuel Lutheran Church commission, Alameda, California

1897: Passed away

Bibliography:

Henderson, John D. Rae Tauber. "Documents in Architectural History" The Journal of San Diego History. Fall 1975, Volume 21, Number 4. Online

Mechanics' Institute. "Report of the ... Industrial Exposition of the Mechanics' Institute of the City of San Francisco, Volume 19." 1885. San Francisco, California. Online

Morrison, George H. 1888. "Biographical Sketches of John Mallon. Based on notes furnished by Peter L. Mallon to George H. Morrison concerning the art glass manufacturing company established by his father in San Francisco, 1858." UC Berkeley Bancroft Library.

Smythe, William Ellsworth. History of San Diego, 1542-1908. 1908. The History Company. San Diego, California. Online

The Bay of San Francisco the Metropolis of the Pacific Coast and its Suburban Cities. 1892. Lewis Publishing Company, Alameda County, California. Online

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Palate Refresher: John Mallon and Victorian American Art Glass Techniques

Take a short stroll with Chicago Art Historian, Rolf Achilles, as he describes various techniques and materials that set American stained glass apart from European artistry. The location is the now defunct exhibit of Victorian American art glass in Chicago's underground Macy's pedway, an odd location that made beautiful windows available to the public.

The sound isn't optimal but trust us this is worth it. You will see a very special Mallon window at 3:42 (it's the last window).

We are researching and sharing the life and work of John Mallon. You can visit the Table of Contents here.

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Industry and Artistry in Glass (or the Story of John Mallon and the Pacific Glass Staining and Embossing Works)

Episode 1: The Big Reveal

Yesterday we shared our plan to learn more about a set of mystery windows we restored a year ago. After some investigation we determined the maker to be none other than John Mallon, proprietor of the Pacific Glass Staining and Embossing Works spanning over 40 years in Victorian-era San Francisco, California. Given that stretch the man was prolific, both introducing art glass to the Western frontier and filling innumerable churches and homes with his creations. Unfortunately, in spite of this breadth, not much was recorded of him or his installations. Thus we are inspired to capture and share as much as we can of Mr. John Mallon's industry and artistry. Visit our Table of Contents here.

Throughout our precursory research we realized three things about his work:

His windows are colorful, highly textured, and make substantial use of jewels. He seemed to have every hue known to man at his fingertips and used color generously and even with a bit of abandon. As a result, his windows are lively, even fun, and portray an element of excitement.
His place in history tells a categorically San Francisco story. Having arrived during the Gold Rush and then staying for several booms, busts, earthquakes, and other notable events, as well as introducing and providing signature decorative elements for San Francisco's Victorian architecture, John Mallon's story is a distinct San Francisco story.
Aligned to the era's penchants for innovation and industry, Mallon was quite the builder himself. Not only did he grow his business from sole proprietorship to a factory of artisans, providing art glass for hundreds - possibly thousands - of homes and beyond, he also took out a patent on a technique for fusing images to glass.

All three are interrelated. His use of color, texture, and jewels align to the period's new technologies in art glass production while his industriousness and innovative spirit intersect the predilections of the time. Understanding the work of John Mallon is to understand an important swathe of San Francisco history as well as the hundreds of years of stained glass history itself.

To kick off our journey we're sharing some Mallon work not from San Francisco but from San Diego, California. Namely because these windows best illustrate our interrelated ideas. These windows were commissioned for Villa Montezuma in San Diego's Sherman Heights. The home was built in 1887 for musician, writer, and spiritualist, Jesse Shepard. Needless to say, the place needed to reflect its master's eccentricity. Perhaps during his many travels Shepard landed in San Francisco and observed the work of Mr. Mallon. In any event, it was Mallon who provided the art glass windows for Mr. Shepard's opulent house.

Observing these windows you'll see the liberal use of color and jewels. Nearly every window on the main floor consists of stained glass with many dedicated to the seasons, poets, playwrights, and composers. One even features the face of Mr. Shepard. While it seems the characters are painted there is a chance they actually utilized the method subsequently patented by Mr. Mallon and accomplished by a chemical method of impressing an image on glass (or porcelain) then making it permanent by kiln firing.

That wraps up our first episode in this journey. Please continue to check back as this mystery unfolds with more beautiful stained glass windows to come!

ETA: Four years and a pandemic later, and we finally had the opportunity to visit the enchanted Villa Montezuma! If you are in the San Diego area, we highly recommend taking a tour of this beautiful house. The glass is something to behold and a remarkable example of Mallon’s range. You can read more about the house courtesy of the Friends of the Villa Montezuma.

We are researching and sharing the life and work of John Mallon. You can visit the Table of Contents here.

Lucas Glass_John Mallon_Villa Montezuma_1.jpg

Lucas Glass_John Mallon_Villa Montezuma_3.jpg

Lucas Glass_John Mallon_Villa Montezuma_2.jpg

Villa Montezuma Windows | Courtesy Chris Nelson

Bibliography

Morrison, George H. 1888. "Biographical Sketches of John Mallon. Based on notes furnished by Peter L. Mallon to George H. Morrison concerning the art glass manufacturing company established by his father in San Francisco, 1858." UC Berkeley Bancroft Library.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/sdut-Villa-Montezuma-museum-reopening-2015jun27-story.html

https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/1970/july/shepard/

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US447991-0.png

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Mystery Windows - A Journey into Stained Glass History

Last year we had the opportunity to restore some interesting windows in San Francisco's Western Addition. The Victorian era house featured several stained glass windows that were all variations of a theme: colorful floral motifs with high texture and generous use of jewels. The designs were repetitive, graphical, yet asymmetrical and almost as if they had been cobbled together. At first we thought they dated to a much later time frame, like the 1960's or 70's. But as we learned from the client, these windows were original to the house. You can see some snapshots in the gallery below.

In the months that followed we noticed other Victorians throughout the city with similar style glass. Assuming these windows all came from the same studio, we attempted to research their origin. Life got in the way, however, and the subject was forgotten.

After nearly a year and while walking through Haight-Ashbury we noticed one of these quirky windows on the landing of a somewhat neglected Victorian. Our curiosity was piqued once again and we resumed our research. After a few days of digging we determined who we believe to be the maker and his studio. Unfortunately stained glass artisans have been notoriously poorly documented in the past, and their works were rarely signed. Therefore, some added research is required, including visits to UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library and a couple on-site installations. Mind you, this work dates to pre-1906 San Francisco, which makes it pre-quake glass, very rare, and, in our opinion, a vital slice of our city’s history.

Our journey will be published as a series, so hang on to your corsets and toppers, folks: this is going to be fun! Visit our Table of Contents here.

Restoration 2017 Bob Lucas

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Stained Glass Meditation at the National Cathedral

Feeling stressed out? Just a few minutes watching this beautiful stained glass time lapse inside the Washington National Cathedral will soothe your soul and put you at ease. Enjoy!

A New Era in Stained Glass

Great article and pictorial from Architectural Digest sharing some of the beauty that stained glass has to offer -- but with a twist. Usually when we think of stained glass we envision churches or Victorian-era motifs, however all the applications shown here are quite modern and abstract.

As you can see from the article, contemporary spaces can benefit from the addition of art glass, whether to create privacy, obstruct an unattractive view, or add new dimensions of light and color to the interior space. Unembellished, simple rooms can be transformed into colorful, light-filled sanctuaries with the addition of art glass. In commercial spaces art glass can help communicate and bolster your brand. Beyond the confines of a frame or casement, the glass can be designed to create moods or experiences. And as the article mentions, should you move you could always relocate the glass.

We recently experimented with a tessellation (pictured below) that would be gorgeous in a contemporary space whether transitional or fully modern. Imagine a larger scale application of this design and its colorful light pattern cast across a lobby, dining room, or bathroom suite. Or, similarly, a modern interpretation of sacred geometric patterns reminiscent of Islamic art. No matter the inspiration, the outcome is always stunning, even transcendent! Please contact us if you are interested in exploring the possibilities.

Tessellation 2017 Lucas Stained Glass Design + Restoration

Stained Glass Kaleidoscope Mosque is a Treat for Your Eyes and Soul

Feast your eyes on this beautiful application of stained glass in another devotional setting, This is the Nasir-ol-Molk mosque in Shiraz, Iran, also known as the Pink Mosque, the Rainbow Mosque, or the Kaleidoscope Mosque. When sunlight hits the extensive art glass windows the whole interior appears as a kaleidoscope. Enjoy this video. It's really a treat for the eyes and the soul!

Marc Chagall's Devotionals in Stained Glass

We could not talk about church glass without highlighting the work of Marc Chagall. More recognized for his paintings and illustrations, Chagall also delved into the medium of stained glass late in his life. Known as the world's "quintessential Jewish artist", Chagall created works of modernist art glass for both Jewish and Christian institutions, employing his dreamy style and the contents of his own imagination to translate religious themes. If you are already familiar with Chagall's mystical and evocative imagery you will understand how his devotional work could be so triumphant.

"To me, stained glass is the transparent wall between my heart and the world’s. Stained glass is uplifting, it requires gravity and passion. It must come alive through the light it receives. The Bible is light already, and stained glass should make this obvious through grace and simplicity." Marc Chagall

Some of his more famous installations include windows for Reims cathedral, Metz cathedral, and the Hadassah Medical Center. Images for all three are depicted below.

Reims Cathedral Windows | flickr/Craig Nichols

Metz Cathedral Detail (Eve) | flickr/onnola

Hadassah Medical Center Window (Tribe of Levi) | Wikipedia/Mrbrefast

In this vintage film you can see actual footage of a Chagall installation as well as the man himself painting the Tribe of Levi window that is shown above. It's really so stunning!

The technique Chagall uses in the footage is called grisaille in which black enamel paint is applied to the glass to make monochromatic images. Before painting, however, Chagall's long-time collaborator in glass, Charles Marc, employed a technique of acid etching on flashed glass causing the subtle gradiations of hue and translucence in nearly every pane. The level of skill here was so advanced that the glass appears painted with watercolors. From there, Marc assembled the panes with lead cane in asymmetrical and seemingly randomized lines that both delineate and intersect the windows’ imagery. Then the windows were built and Chagall was given reign to paint using brushes and his fingers. Once that step was complete the windows were dismantled and the panes kiln-fired to fuse the paint to the glass. Finally, the windows were reassembled, puttied, and installed.

An interesting if somewhat maddening story can be read here about a break-in at the Metz cathedral that caused damage to a portion of Chagall's Adam & Eve window.

Chagall did not stick solely to religious commissions. His "America Windows" at the Chicago Art Institute are secular and very notable examples. But are they not also devotional? To know the answer requires knowing Chagall the man.

Born in Belarus in the late 1800's, Chagall was raised by an observant Hasidic Jewish family and suffered waves of pogroms in his childhood. By the start of WWII he was an established artist living in France. When the Nazis took power in Germany, as with other modernists, his work was labeled degenerate and confiscated. Once France became occupied territory Chagall and his family were forced to flee to the United States using forged visas.

“America Windows” were completed just in time for the United States’ bicentennial and serve as a love letter to his adopted nation. Using selective imagery of Chicago’s culture and landmarks along with classic American motifs, Chagall expresses his devotion to our nation’s higher ideals of creativity, diversity, inclusion, and religious freedom.

The video below discusses not only the significance of the “America Windows” but also matters of conservation, restoration, and the original processes followed by Chagall and Marc for all their stained glass projects.

Reference:

Restoration Planning for Stained Glass Church Windows

A church or house of worship can be a sizable restoration project that may even seem insurmountable. Many houses of worship have numerous stained glass windows that are 80+ years old with bowing, sagging lead and broken or cracked glass. Not to mention the grime and paint that have likely encroached the windows over time. At some point these assets must absolutely be preserved or unfortunately replaced with a less expensive, less inspired option.

However, there are manageable ways to go about both the funding and execution of a restoration. A little strategic planning can go a long way toward controlling costs. On the topic of raising capital, we stumbled on this interview with an experienced fundraiser. The article includes a host of both prudent and creative techniques for raising asset preservation funds.

And if you are in no rush to complete the project you can prioritize the windows in most need of restoration and pay as you go. Staging the project in this way does not diminish the quality of work. We can help determine prioritization and draft an execution plan that meshes with your budget and ability to raise funds. We will be your partner in assuring an affordable, quality outcome to last another 80-100 years. We’d love to help bring your stained glass windows back to their original beauty and to delight and inspire your congregants. Contact us for an on-site consultation.

Stained Glass Enhances Classic Eichler Character

A few years ago one of the more significant Eichler homes - the Matt and Lydia Kahn house - went on the market. This of course gave the public an opportunity to peek behind its nondescript midcentury modern front facade. A classic Eichler interior was thusly revealed: light-filled with ample skylights, floor-to-ceiling windows, clean lines, open spaces, all opening to interior gardens and patios.

What is an Eichler, you ask? Well, it is both a man and a house. The man, Joseph Eichler, was a post-war developer who build thousands of homes in California. Inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Eichler worked closely with architects to devise his signature modernist style, creating what is now universally known as the "Eichler" house. Most notable about the house was the concept of indoor-outdoor living which prevailed throughout his developments and beyond. What should also be noted about the man was his character and his staunch support for fair housing:

A strong proponent of fair housing and deeply opposed to racial discrimination, the liberal Eichler was the first large, tract builder to sell to minorities, and even built a home on his own lot for an NAACP leader. Joe resigned from the National Association of Home Builders in 1958 in protest of racial discrimination policies and, according to reports from long-time Eichler owners, offered to buy back homes from those who had trouble accepting their neighbors.

"If, as you claim, this will destroy property values," Joe once told some disgruntled Eichler owners, "I could lose millions...You should be ashamed of yourselves for wasting your time and mine with such pettiness."

Something that stands out with the Kahn house is the use of art glass to reassert the light in pretty, magical ways. Two large "eavesdroppers" - designed by Matt Kahn himself - designate the primary entrance, offering a colorful greeting and revealing a color story to reflect the owners' personal tastes. According to the Kahn's son, Ira:

"The light in the house is just amazing," Ira said, looking towards the 'eavesdroppers.' "In the morning, when the light is horizontal, and in the afternoon, when the light is horizontal, the interior of the house is awash with color. It's marvelous to sit in the rich environment of colored light."

Two more intricate and diminutive pieces are placed in a bedroom, flanking the bed in front of frosted windows. These act more as classic framed art pieces, illuminated by the natural light diffused through the frosted privacy glass. Large, colorful glass rondels are placed in the sitting and dining area and layered in such a way to create a complementary color scheme. One bathroom features a set of hanging swirl rondels adding visual excitement to a sedate frosted privacy window.

As you see throughout, the glass can be installed as separate panels that can be relocated as needed and won't impact the original design integrity. The introduction of art glass maintains the clean, uncluttered aesthetic while offering another dimension of light and color. We see the open, clean spaces as empty canvases for colored light and an opportunity to enhance the modern interior in a novel way.

Do you live in a midcentury modern home? What color story would you like to tell? Contact us if you want to discuss.