toffee hammered (suffrage window)

The window I started over a year ago now is almost complete. I have finally found an appropriate 1900's toffee hammer to be the finishing touch to this window about the more extreme aspects of the fight for women's votes. Window smashing was a key activity at the time with Westminster being targeted most often. To reflect this I smashed some of the panels in my window and will attach the hammer from the bottom. This with any luck will resemble a emergence call point. 

The smashed panels are coated in Matt cote to preserve they're structure.

 Before smashing

 Post smashing

Penny Dreadful (Exhibition sign)

The completed sign for my exhibition is ready in record time. Fitted in a steel frame which can be hung for underneath the Archive Gallery sign.

At its center the window holds a 1960's Britannia penny.

 The renovation of the gallery is almost complete and i have all the ideas i need to put a show together....only the hard graft  left to do.

The Black Dog fettered

 The progress of the Black Dog of Newgate. Two chains have been constructed and I still need to decide if the piece needs a third top chain of an even greater length. In the mean time I will clean and burnish the chains with patiana acid to sear the metal black.

Straight razor MkIII

 An idea I had many a year ago about making a functional stained glass sculpture is now in its third iteration. The piece themed to accompany a sweeny todd window is a straight (cut throat) razor. moving parts are the larges problem but being to thick to quit is yielding results finally.

 The piece is only a rough prototype and i plan to subject it to some punishing tests so i thought it warranted documenting before distruction. Later models with hopefully gain more delicacy, this is definitely still in a flint axes level of evolution.

 I cant seem to capture the beautiful internal pattern of the green glass on camera but its amazing. Its a nearly exstinted batch of glass, i think i might have to get some more.

Black Dog of Newgate

 Cutting glass and leading up the first element of a new window. The Black dog of Newgate is a tale from the old prison on that site, wherein the most evil of men pick the wrong victim unaware or his occult connections.

The next step is making chains out of glass.

Nevermore (joining and burning)

 Half way through this seemingly endless piece and I have added half of the three dimensional wings. Im pretty sure i have invented two new processes during the course of this window.

 I belive these are 1) transitioning between leaded light and copper foil in a single piece.                                

 2) burning a layer of ash onto the surface of the glass (carbonizing) and using a fine point to draw onto it. then i fix it with a matt varnish.

 

 Two more wings to go and then finishing with patina acid and black iron polish.

 Its getting there.

Nevermore (copper foil wings)

 William Morris has a window in Winchester cathedral with wings that boggle the mind in their beauty.  My humble offerings are coming along slowly and are rougher around the edges but I cant help but to smile at them, compared to my earlier offerings they're a quantum leap better. One more leap and I'll be happy.

 These are tack soldered together at the moment and still need to be smoothed and treated in acid to burnish them black. Only two weeks behind schedule. Must work faster if i want to do a show by february!