Illuminate: Lightner Museum’s Stained Glass Rediscovered

Stained glass is a craft that dates back to ancient Rome which plays with color and light to create spectacular works of art. Glass is processed and given its colors by metallic oxides. Once cooled, colorful pieces of glass are arranged and held together by materials such as lead and stone.

While some of the windows in this collection were made by Tiffany Studios, this display sheds light on lesser-known manufacturers that worked synonymously with Tiffany during the late 1880s including Willet Stained Glass and Rudy Brothers Glass Studio, both from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The exhibition focuses on portraiture, mythology, and Art Nouveau as the most prominent themes of stained glass in the early 1890s.

The restoration process was overseen by RLA Conservation, a group of professionally trained conservators and artists who specialize in historic architecture, artifacts, and sculpture. Over the course of two years, each window was cleaned and repaired to stabilize the lead support and wood frame. Custom lightboxes from Building 4 Fabrication provide guests with an unobstructed view of each window. The gallery exhibit will include twelve restored windows in addition to the distinguished Tiffany lamp with a dragonfly motif.

On September 10, 2020, the museum will open this uniquely stunning exhibition on the mezzanine above the pool.