| Posted: Thu Jan 11th, 2007 11:19 am |
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1st Post |
mmezalick
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I received an e-mail yesterday asking if I could identify a stained glass window.
It was claimed by one dealer to be a "Rudy Brothers" window.
I do you a small bit about the Rudy Brothers but not enough about their work to access the window.
Is there anyone who have more information about the windows in question
Michael
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11th, 2007 12:21 pm |
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2nd Post |
Krueger
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Michael, Some years ago there was an article in Stained Glass Quarterly about the Rudy Brothers. And I would make an inquiry to Albert Timmler in Pittsburgh as he is pretty knowledgeable about that era. Is this in a residential setting, or a public building?
Barbara Krueger
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11th, 2007 12:28 pm |
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3rd Post |
mmezalick
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Barbara.
This couple, Terry & Michelle Shipard registered with the AGG discussion board so that they could find out information about their windows. I wrote to them that they needed to be members first in order to post messages.
They were referred to the AGG by Vic. I contacted them about joining the AGG but for now if they would send some pictures I would post them myself.
The following is the information I received from them about the windows;
We are seeking any information from those 'in the know' regarding our
window, which we purchased from friends in Houston Texas. The only
information our friends were able to provide was that their late Aunt
bought it from auction in the 1960's. I'm not sure where exactly but I
would imagine somewhere in the Texas area. Our friends did say that
their Aunt said it come out of a home in Galveston. No further
information is available from them.
We have contacted Richard Marcello from the "Tiffany Windows" website
who said the window was done by Rudy Brothers. However he would not
provide any further information when made aware that we were not looking
to sell. This assessment has been questioned as later contact with the
Curator at the Corning Museum of Glass, Jane Spillman and the reference
librarian at the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, who
searched through the Rudy Brothers archives both stated that there is no
evidence to suggest that this is a Rudy Brothers window.
We have carefully checked the window from top to bottom, paying
particular attention to the lower edges but could find no sign of a
signature or makers mark.
So we are at a loss to know where and how to start our search,
particularly to find the maker, its age and if possible who it was
commissioned for.
The window has been shipped to Australia, where we live. We have had
local experts look at it (Artlab) but they mostly deal with English
windows and were only able to confirm it is old, very beautiful and
American. As you can imagine these types of windows are rare in
Australia.
The window consists of three panels; total dimensions are approx. 7 1/2
foot x 7 foot. The middle panel is double glazed and painted to areas on
the hands, faces, feet and clothes and some sections of the flowers. The
side panels are single glazed and all three panels have what appears to
have been hinges on the centre and catches at the bottom. We assume to
tilt open for ventilation.
Artlab brought an expert from Melbourne Australia to view the window. He
conducts State Heritage restoration work. We were concerned as there is
an accumulation of dirt matter between some glazing areas in the centre
panel and wanted advice for its preservation. He said he did not
recommend commissioning anyone to work on the window and that we should
not do anything more than gently clean the outside of the window, as
major restoration to fix this problem would take from its originality.
He recommended we install it away from direct sunlight and protected
from the elements by a protective glass covering with adequate
ventilation. Do you think this is the right advice??
I have attached a few photos and look forward to any advice or
information that can be provided.
We are able to provide more photos if required.
With thanks,
Terry & Michelle Shipard
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11th, 2007 02:00 pm |
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4th Post |
Krueger
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A window purchased from an auction, then in a Houston home and now in Australia? Well, personally unless it is signed (which apparently it is not) or there is a historical photo showing it insitu, or a book with an identical "known" window, I would think the chance of identification is very slim. They might send a query to various historical societies in Texas.
Barbara Krueger
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12th, 2007 01:17 pm |
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5th Post |
Jean M. Farnsworth
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Re: Information on Rudy Vol XXVIII of the Journal of Stained Glass, American Edition, has the most recent published article on Rudy "Pittsburgh 1893-1012: Five Artists" by Joan Gaul.
The person's name in Pittsburgh noted by Barbara K. is correctly spelled Al Tannler- Tannler, Al E-mail Address(es): al@phlf.org
Jean Farnworth, Philadelphia
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12th, 2007 01:21 pm |
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6th Post |
Jean M. Farnsworth
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Just looked at the image of the "Rudy" window in question. It definitely looks like a Rudy to me.
Jean Farnsworth
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13th, 2007 03:11 pm |
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7th Post |
Krueger
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Jean, thanks for the correction of my spelling error. I can recognize many Willet windows by the style of the artist(s) and their design elements. In regard to these windows, what is there you recognize as elements from the Rudy Studio? Painting style, borders, human figures, sidelights, etc. Thanks.
Barbara Krueger
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13th, 2007 05:46 pm |
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8th Post |
Jean M. Farnsworth
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BARBARA, This is how I quickly responded to Terry this morning re: the Rudy? window. The fine enamel face painting surrounded by ornamental opalescent glass framework suggests some of Rudy's earlier work. Rudy worked with Alfred Godwin (English, worked in Philadelphia) and the window , from a cursory examination of the photo only, could also be attributed to Godwin.(When I wrote my comment saying it looks like a Rudy to me, I thought you had more secure documentation--I had not read your original description of tracking down the designer.) Since we do not have true scholarly studies on many of the late 19th-century-early 20th century designers/fabricators, nor a large firmly documented comparative database of work, it is really difficult to accurately attribute a work to one of these artists.[Accurate attribution calls for finding and comparing such minute details as an artist's hand, such as brush strokes for example, or other details that may be specific to an artist, to firmly documented work. Also -As you probably know the production of a stained glass studio was often a cooperative effort between different studio members. The studios also copied each others designs. Only with actual documentation can one be truly certain. Since Rudy worked in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but longer in Pittsburgh-I think Al Tannler, as suggested earlier, would be your best source to attempt to document the window perhaps through the subject matter or the name of the person for.whom the window was originally commissioned--Try to track the window through the person you purchased it from -- what was the name of the auction house, and the name of the original owner of the house?--Sometimes these artists published promotional material with the names of their clients--that way perhaps you can get back to the original source. It was not unusual for someone in another part of the country to order stained glass from a recognized east coast designer.
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15th, 2007 11:33 pm |
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9th Post |
Krueger
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Jean, thanks for your comments. I hope other readers will take note, and use your general information when they have to try and identify an unknown window.
Barbara Krueger
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