Architectural Salvage & Primitive Auction
Lot 226:
Description
This lot consists of an incredibly intricate design mosaic pattern stained glass window attributed to Henry Belcher. Several hand cut pieces of glass make up this window pattern. Overall measurements of frame are 55.75"x1.75"x19.75".Located in Newark, New Jersey, research gathered by Barbara E. Krueger, Director of the Michigan Stained Glass Census, indicates that the Belcher Glass Company was in operation as early as 1825.[1] It is unclear what kind of work was being performed by the Belcher Glass Company in its early years, though it is almost certainly not figural stained glass. The timeline established by Krueger shows that the company, then called Cooper & Belcher Glass, began producing decorative windows as early as 1855.[2] The company experiences a third change in ownership in 1875 and is renamed as Belcher & Povey until the 1880s when the Belcher Mosaic Glass Company is founded following the invention of Henry F Belcher’s “Mosaic of Glass and Lead Glazing” process, patented in 1884.[3] The company’s first catalogue published in 1886 includes over fifty full-color examples of Belcher mosaic windows customers could select.[4] Designs included in this publication ranged from simple mixes of colors and shapes, complex geometric patterns, transom lights with building numbers for secular use, and figural scenes for religious settings. The catalogue also boasts that the Belcher system produces windows that are lighter, air-tight, and more durable than their leaded counterparts. Whether this is accurate or not, it does show that the Belcher Mosaic Glass Company sought to compete directly with other stained glass studios at the time. It should also be noted that surviving examples of Belcher mosaic windows do show that both the patented matrix system and traditional leaded method were sometimes used in the same panel. Based on archival evidence and the dates of construction of all known windows, it is likely that the Belcher Mosaic Glass Company went out of business after 1897.[5]
Condition: See all photos for a better idea on condition. Please remember shipping is exact postage plus our $25 boxing fee and also depends upon the size of the item. Larger items are subject to a higher boxing fee based on time and materials. You pay for the item directly through Live Auctioneers and us directly for the shipping charges.
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