About this piece
back to topAn antique ecclesiastical stained glass panel depicting biblical kings.
Competently painted, this dramatic stained glass window dates to 1889, once a part of an impressive larger window named ‘Epistle for All Saints Day’ reclaimed from the south transept of All Saints Emscote Church, Warwick.
Combined the panels depict five kings surrounded by names on stylised scrolls. One of which is Josaphaz (Josaphat), who was the first saint of the Eastern church to be canonised by Rome and was made the patron saint of Ukraine.
Abia, meaning ‘my father is the lord’, also features in this striking window; he is described in the bible various times, one of which he was the son of Samuel, a judge in Israel who took bribes and perverted judgment.
Jeroboam can be seen towards the bottom of the top panel. This biblical figure was the first king and founder of the northern kingdom of Israel and left rebellion against Rehoboam, the son of Solomon.
The inscription at the foot of the window displays a section of a quote: ‘there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse & a branch shall grow out of his roots.’
This is just one of eight stained and hand painted panels that once made this striking church window.
Now a stunning and detailed interior feature, the vivid colours would look striking flooded with daylight in a traditional home, a sympathetically decorated converted chapel or ecclesiastical building.
Hardman & Co
Renowned makers Hardman & Co made Birmingham a popular spot for stained glass operating between 1838 and 2008 as a world-leading stained-glass manufacturer.
Founder John Hardman led the company to be one of the country’s leading manufacturers in the 19th and 20th century.
They went on to create windows for churches and houses all over the world. Most of the company’s windows were made for buildings in Britain and Ireland.
Many also went overseas to countries which were then part of the British Empire, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. Others also went to the USA.
Some windows went to churches in big cities while others went to tiny settlements.
Many of Hardman & Co’s records and designs are now divided between the Library of Birmingham and Birmingham Museums Trust.
Additional dimensions
Top panel – Height 111.5 x width 49 x depth 1cm (43.9 x 19.29 x 0.39in). Weight 10kg.
Bottom panel – Height 112 x width 49.5 x depth 1cm (44.1 x 19.49 x 0.39in). Weight 10kg.
