Medieval History
While I'm on the theme of All Saints North Street, here is a fragment of glass from another window in the church. It is a detail of the mid fifteenth century window portraying the Nine Orders of Angels. In this window each of the orders of angels is shown with a group of equivalent mortals. The higher angels are shown with popes and emperors, while the three lowest orders are shown with a group of ordinary York folk. Among them is this wonderful chap holding a pair of spectacles up to his eyes.
A fascinating detail. I can't claim to be any sort of expert on late medieval optometry, but I did track down the following link, which describes the archaeological discovery of a similar set of specs at Trig Lane in London. The London specs are fifteenth century like the glass panel at North Street. They are bone rimmed, and just like the pair portrayed in the North Street panel the lenses were hinged so they could be moved together. Perhaps this was to give greater magnification. Anyway I should stop before I reveal my thorough ignorance of all things scientific. I have to say the Trig Lane specs are really rather elegant, I particularly like the pierced decoration.
- Wodshawe And Twygge
As well as the glorious vestment fragments posted previously, Buckland in Gloucestershire has a number of panels of medieval stained glass. The east window has three panels from a Seven Sacrament window of the late fifteenth century, including this panel...
- Assumption At Sandford On Thames
In relation to the image of the Assumption in porch at Tiverton, BillyD asked the following question: 'Any idea why the BVM is shown with uncovered, flowing hair in the English medieval depictions of the Assumption that I've seen? Admittedly,...
- Saints In All Saints, North Street, York
To celebrate the feast of All Saints, here is the east window of All Saints, North Street in the city of York. This church is a place that is very dear to my heart, I worshipped here between 1998 and 2005 and it was here that my vocation was fostered....
- Glass Painting Technique
Waterperry, Oxfordshire - Margaret FitzEllis and daughter. Waterperry is on the eastern border of Oxfordshire, where it adjoins Buckinghamshire. The beautiful church has a lot of interest in it, some good monuments and a lot of medieval stained glass....
- Workshop Technique - Glass From East Harling, Norfolk
East Harling, Norfolk, originally uploaded by Vitrearum.The east window of the East Harling church contains a considerable amount of late fifteenth century stained glass of the Norwich school. The window is composite, and among the panels are a series...
Medieval History
Medieval spectacles
While I'm on the theme of All Saints North Street, here is a fragment of glass from another window in the church. It is a detail of the mid fifteenth century window portraying the Nine Orders of Angels. In this window each of the orders of angels is shown with a group of equivalent mortals. The higher angels are shown with popes and emperors, while the three lowest orders are shown with a group of ordinary York folk. Among them is this wonderful chap holding a pair of spectacles up to his eyes.
A fascinating detail. I can't claim to be any sort of expert on late medieval optometry, but I did track down the following link, which describes the archaeological discovery of a similar set of specs at Trig Lane in London. The London specs are fifteenth century like the glass panel at North Street. They are bone rimmed, and just like the pair portrayed in the North Street panel the lenses were hinged so they could be moved together. Perhaps this was to give greater magnification. Anyway I should stop before I reveal my thorough ignorance of all things scientific. I have to say the Trig Lane specs are really rather elegant, I particularly like the pierced decoration.
- Wodshawe And Twygge
As well as the glorious vestment fragments posted previously, Buckland in Gloucestershire has a number of panels of medieval stained glass. The east window has three panels from a Seven Sacrament window of the late fifteenth century, including this panel...
- Assumption At Sandford On Thames
In relation to the image of the Assumption in porch at Tiverton, BillyD asked the following question: 'Any idea why the BVM is shown with uncovered, flowing hair in the English medieval depictions of the Assumption that I've seen? Admittedly,...
- Saints In All Saints, North Street, York
To celebrate the feast of All Saints, here is the east window of All Saints, North Street in the city of York. This church is a place that is very dear to my heart, I worshipped here between 1998 and 2005 and it was here that my vocation was fostered....
- Glass Painting Technique
Waterperry, Oxfordshire - Margaret FitzEllis and daughter. Waterperry is on the eastern border of Oxfordshire, where it adjoins Buckinghamshire. The beautiful church has a lot of interest in it, some good monuments and a lot of medieval stained glass....
- Workshop Technique - Glass From East Harling, Norfolk
East Harling, Norfolk, originally uploaded by Vitrearum.The east window of the East Harling church contains a considerable amount of late fifteenth century stained glass of the Norwich school. The window is composite, and among the panels are a series...