Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi

Medieval Stained Glass in Great Britain

[Image: Stained Glass Roundel]
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Norfolk: Norwich, Guildhall, Mayoral Council Chamber

O.S. TG 229086

Large East Window

I.

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I 1a.

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I 1a.

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I 1a.

1a. Fragmentary depiction of a Gnadenstuhl Trinity set within a quatrefoil opening with a cusped border and plain pot-blue background. The bearded God the Father with cross-nimbus sits against a glory on a throne with crocketted pinnacles, facing to the front and wearing a ruby mantle with yellow-stain hem over a white robe with a pattern of quatrefoils within a double circle. A dove rises from his breast, set on a glory. The lobes of the quatrefoil to left and right contain the leading around what were trees, as in 1d. Trace-line, matt wash and yellow stain are used. The panel is much patched with medieval bouche-trous, including part of a figure wearing a tunic where Christ crucified would have been, and pieces of drapery pattern instead of the trees. Parts of the ruby mantle and blue ground are patched. 1453. The quatrefoil is set on a medley of 15th-c and 16th-c fragments cut into lozenges. These include 15th-c pieces of glory, drapery and blackletter, and 16th-c pieces of merchant’s mark, Renaissance ornament, and part of a grid.
h 0.68m, w 0.495m
NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05657 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003241); NMR BB89/05652 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003242); DK (2008)

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I 2a.

2a. Arms of the City of Norwich, gules in fess a three-towered gate argent with door or and in base a lion salient? of the third. Panel cut down, but has lobes and may have come from a tracery light; some repair leads. The shield is set on a small rectangular panel with modern white-glass background, against a background of fragments as in 1a. These include blackletter, border work, patterned quarries and parts of a cow.
h 0.385m, w 0.495m
G. King & son (col. trans., CVMA inv. no. 010791); NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05657 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003241); NMR BB89/05652 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003242); DK (2008)

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I 3a.

3a. Royal arms of Queen Elizabeth I in the garter. Late 16th-c. Set on the usual background of fragments, including sun-burst border pieces, feathers, and a fragment of blackletter, possibly reading 'istius'. Patched at the top and a few repair leads.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); NMR BB89/05652 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003242); DK (2008)

4a. Bearded and nimbed figure of St Bartholomew, standing facing to dexter against a seaweed screen with blue background and yellow-stain estoile in the top foil, on an ears-of-barley pedestal, wearing a purple mantle over a white robe, holding a flying-knife in his right hand. White, purple and blue glass, with trace-line, stipple-shading and yellow stain. Top right section of screen patched and disturbed; bottom right corner replaced by a piece of micro-architecture; mantle also patched, around the hands with ruby and to bottom left with light-purple glass; some of the purple glass suffers from external pitting; a little paint loss; several repair leads. 1453. The panel is set against the usual fragments, including blackletter, chequered pedestal, and part of a coat of arms with sable a bar wavy, probably for the arms of Robert Toppes. There are also some pieces of 16th-c micro-architecture.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); NMR BB89/05655 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003240); DK (2008)

5a. Feathered demi-angel wearing an ermine tippet and diadem and holding a scroll with blackletter text 'Erat | Joh(ann)es' (John I, 6), standing against a background that is now ruby above and blue below, set within rod-and-leaf work. Blue glass of wings stained yellow on back to give green. Trace-line. White, blue and ruby glass, with yellow stain. 1453. Blue background may not be original; a little paint loss; a few repair leads.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

1b. The arms of the City of Norwich in a classical architectural setting. 17th-c. At the top and bottom are a few mainly 15th-c fragments, mostly of micro-architecture, with one piece of blackletter text.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05652 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003242); DK (2008)

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I 2b.

2b. A large probably made-up shield of arms, lozengy argent and azure, with on alternate lozenges argent a fleur-de-lys argent or or, on a canton of the second a hand of the first. The blazon is irregular and unknown, and the whole has the appearance of a confection to complete the series of shields in rows two and three. Trace-line, stippling. White and blue glass, with yellow stain. The background of fragments includes patterned quarries, a crown, micro-architecture, foliage, blackletter and blue cloud, mainly 15th-c.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05655 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003240); NMR BB89/05652 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003242); DK (2008)

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I 3b.

3b. An oval roundel with an achievement of arms, sable, in chief three talbots’ heads couped, langued gules, with a gentleman’s helm with crest (a talbot’s head sable on a wreath), with mantling, perhaps for Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich 1641–1656, whose arms were sable three talbots’ heads erased argent langued gules. 14 17th-c. Fragments in the background include foliage, quarry patterns, blackletter, drapery, and part of an arm. 15th-c and 19th-c.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); NMR BB89/05655 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003240); NMR BB89/05652 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003242); DK (2008)

4b. Bearded and nimbed figure of St Thomas, standing facing to sinister against a seaweed screen with ruby background, on an ears-of-barley pedestal, wearing a blue mantle over a white robe, holding a spear in his right hand. Technique as 3a, with white, ruby and blue glass. Estoile at the top replaced by a fragment of blue drapery; bottom left part of the screen replaced by a piece of micro-architecture; one or two pieces of the screen on the right are not original; some paint loss on the screen and drapery; several repair leads. 1453. Fragments in the background include a piece of 14th-c border with cross-hatching and quatrefoils, blackletter script and drapery.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); NMR BB89/05655 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003240); DK (2008)

5b. Head of an angel facing to dexter, the tips of the wings visible behind, set on a plain blue ground, possibly not original. Trace-line. White and blue glass, with yellow stain. 1453. Further wings intruded above the head; to right and left fragments of ruby glass and pieces of rod-and leaf ornament; below the head a piece of intruded drapery.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

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I 1c.

1c. In the bottom half of the panel is a shield with the arms of the Grocers’ Company, argent a chevron gules between nine cloves proper, 5 and 4, impaling a merchant’s mark. 15 The shield is set on a blue circular ground with a relieved foliage diaper and a beaded yellow-stain border with ruby inserts. Trace-line, matt wash, relieving. White, blue and ruby glass, with yellow stain. Two pieces of blue have been replaced by plain blue glass, and there is some paint loss on the shield. 1453? In the top half is a Flemish roundel of unknown provenance, rectangular in form, depicting an unidentified subject. 16 Seen here is a crowned king sitting on a throne covered by a brown striped cloth and with a brown back, and with a curtain above his head. 17 The king speaks vehemently with a man who bows to him, while two others stand behind, one pointing with his thumb to three further men dressed in more exotic costumes. The scene is set in a large building; further buildings and a tree are seen behind the second group of men. 18 Trace-line, matt wash, relieving, stippling, White glass, with yellow stain and sanguine. Complete, some rubbing and scratching of the paint. c.1530 – c.1540. Fragments in the background include blackletter, patterned quarries and foliage.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05653 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003239); DK (2008)

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I 2c.

2c. Shield with the arms of the Merchant Adventurers, barry nebuly argent and azure on a chief or 2 roses gules quartering gules a lion passant guardant or, set on a circular ruby background. Trace-line, matt wash, abrasion; the abrasion of the bars nebuly is particularly striking. Flashed-blue and flashed-ruby glass, with yellow stain. 1534? A crack on the chief, otherwise in excellent condition. The ruby disc is set against a rectangle of late enamelled glass with foliage and the panel is made up with fragments as usual, including a rose-en-soleil quarry and other patterned quarries.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05650 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003237); NMR BB89/05653 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003239); DK (2008)

3c. A rectangular heraldic panel of the late seventeenth or eighteenth centuries with argent a chevron gules between three crosses crosslet sable, perhaps for Smyth, of Walsoken, Norfolk. Kent gives the motto, which is now scarcely legible: 'Crux Christi Gloria Christiani'. Fragments in the background include blackletter and patterned quarries and many 19th-c fragments.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05650 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003237); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); G. King & Son (col. trans., CVMA inv. no. 010792); NMR BB89/05653 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003239); DK (2008)

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I 4c.

4c. Bearded and nimbed figure of St Philip stands facing right against a seaweed screen with ruby background, wearing a blue mantle over a white robe, holding a basket of loaves in his right hand. Technique as 4a, with white, ruby and blue glass. The estoile at the top has been replaced by a fragment of blue drapery, the bottom right part of the screen is replaced by a piece of micro-architecture, the pedestal is missing and the bottom left of the screen is muddled. Some repair leads and paint loss. 1453. The panel is set on fragments including black letter, feathers and rod-and-leaf ornament.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05650 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003237); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); G. King & Son (col. trans., CVMA inv. no. 010792); NMR BB89/05653 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003239); DK (2008)

5c. As 3d, with the angel facing right.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

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I 1d.

1d. St John the Baptist stands nimbed and bearded wearing a ruby mantle over a camel-skin shirt tied at the waist with a white cloth, holding a book in his left hand on which is placed the Lamb of God with nimbus and pennant on a cross, and pointing to the lamb with his right hand. He stands on a landscape in pale-green bubbly glass with plants and clifflets and a tree to either side, pale pink on the left and white with yellow stain on the right. Plain blue background. Above is a scroll with yellow stain with black letter text 'Ecce agn(us) dei'. The quatrefoil panel was surrounded by a cusped and three-dimensional border, of which only the part in the top foil survives. Trace-line, matt wash, relieving. White, blue, pale-pink, pale-green and ruby glass, with yellow stain. Two pieces of the ruby mantle and one of the camel-skin shirt have been replaced by fragments, as have small parts of the blue background in the top foil and on the right, and there are some repair leads and a small amount of paint loss. The panel is set on fragments, including micro-architecture, chequered pedestal, seaweed diaper, blackletter and Renaissance lettering, perhaps from a merchant’s mark. Two adjacent fragments of pot-yellow glass appear to depict the head of a figure lying on the ground with the word ‘false’ in blackletter beneath the head. This may be from one of the 1534 justice scenes, but the word is not recorded by Blomefield and Parkin. Another fragment has 'tomo' in Renaissance lettering.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05656 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003236); NMR BB89/05653 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003239); DK (2008)

2d. Shield with the royal arms of France ancient quartering England, with green edging at the base. The fleurs-de-lys are insertions of white glass with yellow stain, and the lions of England are abraded from flashed ruby and coloured with yellow stain. Trace-line, abrasion. White, green and ruby glass, with yellow stain. Lower fleur-de-lys of the first quarter and part of the green edging replaced by fragments; repair leads in the dexter half of the shield. The shield is set on a rectangle made up with fragments of ruby and Renaissance ornament. To the right, left and below are further fragments, including patterned quarries and small fragments of heraldry, including sable a chevron or, with a ?lion’s head in base, and sable, perhaps 2 crosses crosslet, in base a scallop argent.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05650 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003237); NMR BB89/05653 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003239); DK (2008)

3d. Shield in a cartouche to the same design as that in 3a of the royal arms, with the arms of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. 1564–88, probably 1586–88. The shield and cartouche are set on a rectangle of blue glass and the rest of the panel filled with fragments, including sunbursts, feathers, blackletter and micro-architecture.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05650 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003237); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); NMR BB89/05653 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003239); DK (2008)

4d. Bearded and nimbed figure of an Apostle standing facing to dexter against a seaweed screen with a blue background, wearing a ruby mantle over a white robe, with a yellow-stain estoile in the top lobe. Technique as 4a, with white, ruby and blue glass. Ruby mantle patched in the middle; the ears-of-barley pedestal missing; screen patched on the left with pieces from other panels of saints (one has a grid iron, perhaps from St Lawrence, and another a staff, perhaps part of St Mathias’s halberd), and on the with a large piece of micro-architecture; background patched with a sky pattern. 1453. The figure and setting are placed on fragments, including blackletter, patterned quarries, ears-of-barley pattern, and part of a face. NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print);

NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05650 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003237); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

5d. A feathered demi-angel with green wings wearing an ermine tippet and diadem and holding a scroll with a black-letter text: 'Fuit | homo' (John I, 6), stands against a background that is now ruby above and blue below, set within rod-and-leaf work. Trace-line. White, blue, green and ruby glass, with yellow stain. Blue background may not be original; a little paint loss; head is cracked; a few repair leads. 1453.

NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

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I A1.

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I A1.

A1. Eyelet decoration, in situ Renaissance ornament. Trace-line. White glass, with yellow stain. 1534. Good condition.
h 0.05m, w 0.05m
NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238; DK (2008)

A2. Eyelet decoration, as A1. Slight paint loss.
h 0.05m, w 0.05m
NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

B1. Demi-figure of an angel in a diadem and white tunic facing to sinister, with plain ruby background. Trace-line, stipple-shading. White and ruby glass, with yellow stain. 1453. Medieval insertions top and bottom, including lower part of figure in tunic; some paint loss and repair leads; yellow stain worn on sinister wing.
h 0.275m, w 0.16m
NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

B2. Demi-figure of an angel, as B1. Heavy parallel scratches on face. 19
h 0.275m, w 0.16m
NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

C1. Roundel with the personification of Justice standing on a pedestal with relieved lozenge pattern against a plain background, facing to sinister, wearing a white mantle over a yellow-stain robe with broad white hem and turban-like headgear on her hair, which falls down her back, carrying a sword over her shoulder in her right hand and scales in her left. Trace-line, stipple-shading. White glass, with yellow stain. 1534. This unipartite piece is set on fragments of foliage, a glory, and blue and ruby glass, all 15th-c. Cut down at edges, paint loss, repair leads.
h 0.34m, w 0.16m
NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

C3. Roundel with the personification of Prudence, standing wearing a mantle over a robe royale with ermine front and bottom and facing to the dexter. On her head is what appears to be a stone coffin, an attribute of this Virtue, and on her left shoulder is a shield with what appear to be symbols of the Passion, another such attribute. Before her is a large scalloped object, perhaps a mirror, a third attribute of Prudence. 20 Technique and date as C1. Paint badly worn.
h 0.34m, w 0.16m
NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05648 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003235); NMR BB89/05649 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003238); DK (2008)

Small East window

nII.

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nII 1a.

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nII 1a.

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nII 1a.

1a. In the middle of the lower part of the panel is an oval panel with flattened sides with a heraldic achievement, the shield sable three cranes argent and a trefoil slipped or at the mid point, for Brown, whose name appears beneath. On a gentleman’s helm with mantling argent and gules is the crest, a crane rising from a coronet argent. Kent confidently identifies this as for Robert Browne, of Heigham, mayor in 1522, but that Browne was a butcher, and the shield appears to date from the late sixteenth century. More probably it is for Richard Browne, sheriff in 1595 and dying in office, and comes from the sheriff’s court on the first floor. 21 Below is the bust of a nimbed angel with diadem and tippet. Trace-line, matt wash, relieving. White glass, with yellow stain. Paint very worn. c.1470–90. To the left is a composite figure of an angel, a sinister-facing head to which have been added blue wings and parts of a dalmatic, all c.1450–60. To the right is a figure of the Virgin Mary at her Assumption, standing with hands raised against a glory wearing a blue mantle over a rich robe royale made of ermine and with a beaded hem and a central band of flashed ruby abraded with a flower pattern stained yellow the seeds. Trace-line, matt wash, abrasion. White, blue and ruby glass, with yellow stain. The head has been placed in sII and replaced here by the head of a female saint with a veil facing to dexter. 1453. Immediately above the achievement is a fragment of a scene possibly from the original 1534 glazing. It depicts a bearded man in a coat with fur collar and a soft hat standing behind a balustrade with a column on the left. To his left stand two further men. The one in front is clean-shaven and wears a coat with a fur tippet and a soft hat; he places one hand on the balustrade and the other on the bearded man’s shoulder. Trace-line, matt wash, stippling. White glass, with yellow stain. To the left and right are two lozenges of c.1570–80 painted with the arms of Norwich. Trace-line, matt wash, stippling. White glass, with yellow stain and blue enamel. In the middle of the upper part is a shield of arms that appears to have been reversed. The blazon when in the correct position is Quarterly 1 and 4, argent a lion rampant gules, 2 and 3 sable 2 bars argent divided nebuly per fesse in chief 3 spinning tops or (Toppes), 22 impaling quarterly 1 and 4, gules a chevron between three chain links or double annulets or, 2 and 3, argent a griffin rampant or a chief ermine. 23 Trace-line, matt wash, relieving, abrasion. White and flashed-ruby glass, with yellow stain. Late 15th-c? The 3rd quarter of the dexter impalement lacks the chief, which is replaced by white glass; a few cracks; some corrosion on the inside; some paint loss; one repair lead. To the left of the shield is a figure of a feathered angel musician set on a plain blue ground facing to sinister and playing a psaltery. Trace-line. White and blue glass, with yellow stain. 1453. Wing on the right replaced by a medieval fragment; legs and feet missing; several repair leads. On the right is a matching angel musician playing the bagpipes and wearing a diadem, set on a ruby ground. Legs and feet are missing; repair leads. The background to both figures indicates that they are from tracery lights with trefoil heads. Above the shield is a large quarry painted in brown paint with an eagle standing on one leg (late 16th-c?), flanked on each side by a well, the rebus of James Goldwell, Bishop of Norwich 1472–99, or possibly of his brother Nicholas, Dean of the College of St Mary in the Fields, Norwich, 1498–1502. 24 Fragments between the items mentioned include parts of a glory, patterned quarries, border work, sunbursts, a small face, a lion’s face, a small lion on a pedestal, and pieces of pot-blue and flashed ruby.

G. King & Son (col. trans., CVMA inv. nos. 010788, 010790); NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05651 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003244); DK (2008)

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nII 2a.

2a. Top centre is a figure dressed in a fur-trimmed coat sitting at a table writing. On the table are scrolls, and to left and right are visible faces of figures on the other side of the table looking at the central figure. Trace-line, matt wash. White glass, with yellow stain. Part of the 1534 glazing. Severe paint loss. Below is a scroll set on a sunburst with an inscription in blackletter 'S(an)c(tu)s Nicholau(s) '. Fragments filling the panel include 15th-c pieces (pot-blue, purple cloud, a hand, white drapery), and 16th-c pieces (two large leaves, four pieces of what appear to be ornate fleurs-de-lys).

G. King & Son (col. trans., CVMA inv. no. 010788); NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05651 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003244); DK (2008)

sII.

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sII 1a.

1a. In the middle of the lower half is a sub-circular enamel panel with a shield of arms, per pale 1 the arms of Norwich, 2 argent in pale point upwards the city sword hilt and pommel or blade gules between in fesse the letters I M of the second and on the point the cap of maintenance of the third, 3 the Mercer’s arms, for John Mann. 25 The shield is set within a cartouche of foliage and berries. c.1653. 26 Below the cartouche are the head of a diademed angel facing to dexter, the bust of the Christ Child blessing facing to sinister, and the bust of a censing angel facing to dexter; rrace-line, matt wash, relieving; white glass, with yellow stain; mid-15th-c; some paint loss. On either side is a rectangular 17th-c enamel panel; one depicts a falcon sitting on a branch by a river, the other an unidentified very fragmentary scene, which appears to show a bearded man on his knees before another bearded man, who blesses him. 27 On each side of the round heraldic panel is a sub-rectangular piece with the double headed imperial eagle; trace-line, matt wash; white glass, with orange stain; c.1540–60; right-hand piece is cracked. On the left above is a small square depiction of the arms of the city of Norwich; trace line, matt wash; white glass, with yellow stain; late 15th-c or early 16th-c; with the corners cut off to fit a lozenge. The corresponding fragment on the right shows a man facing left in profile wearing a bonnet, probably part of the 1534 glazing; trace-line, stipple-shading; white glass, with yellow stain. In the centre of the upper half of the panel is the badge of the heir apparent, a plume of three ostrich feathers argent enfiled by a coronet of crosses paty and fleurs-de-lys or, with the motto 'Ich dien', 28 set on a background party azure and gules with a feathered diaper; 29 trace-line; white, blue and ruby glass, with yellow stain; severe paint loss, including on the motto, which is no longer visible. Below are two covered cups between buckles, from the arms of the Goldsmiths; 15th-c. On the left of the roundel is a standing feathered angel from a trefoil-headed tracery light facing to sinister, wearing a diadem and with a scarf knotted round its waist, its hands raised, set on a ruby ground; trace-line, matt wash; white and ruby glass, with yellow stain; 1453?; a few repair leads, a little paint loss. On the right is another standing angel from a trefoil-headed tracery light, facing to sinister in profile, wearing a white tunic and diadem. its hands raised, set on a blue ground; technique as angel opposite; 1453?; several repair leads. Above the heir apparent’s badge is a shield with a hand in chief descending from a cloud and holding on a cord an inkwell and pen. 30 Trace-line, matt wash, relieving. White glass, with yellow stain. c.1530–50. Fragments making up this panel include parts of glories, sunbursts, border pieces with fleur-de-lys, micro-architecture, feathers of various colours, blackletter, quarry patterns, ruby, purple and blue glass.

G. King & Son (col. trans., CVMA inv. no. 010789; NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05654 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003243); DK (2008)

1b. In the centre is the head of the Virgin Mary from the Assumption figure in nII 1a, nimbed, set against a glory and with two supporting angels. Trace-line, matt wash, relieving. White glass, with yellow stain. 1453. The left side of the head and part of the glory are missing. Fragments making up this panel include ‘lucas’ on a scroll, blackletter, drapery, blue, ruby and green glass.

G. King & Son (col. trans., CVMA inv. no. 010789; NMR job no. 87/1707 (1987, b&w print); NMR BB89/05654 (1987, col. print, CVMA inv. no. 003243); DK (2008)

Footnotes

14.
Blomefield and Parkin 1805–10, III, p. 581. Return to context
15.
The merchant’s mark is not recorded, but the form suggests that the bearer’s initials were AB. A possible candidate would be Andrew Browne, councillor for St Giles in 1453–67. Robert Toppes was mayor in the first half of 1453, the year the council chamber was glazed; he was also alderman for St Giles at that time. Against Browne is the fact that he was not an alderman and would not have sat in the chamber with Toppes. Return to context
16.
Kent thought that this depicted the story of the Corrupt Judge, as described by Blomefield and Parkin, but this seems unlikely. Return to context
17.
Mistaken by Kent for the skin of Sisamnes. Return to context
18.
A tentative identification of the subject of this panel is the scene described in Daniel III, 13 ‘Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.’ Return to context
19.
This could be an unusual form of iconoclasm. Return to context
20.
Kirschbaum and Braunfels 1968–76, IV, col. 376. Return to context
21.
Hawes 1986, p. 27. Return to context
22.
The full blazon, reduced here for technical reasons, is Sable 2 bars wavy per fesse vert and argent in chief 3 spinning tops of the third; see King 2006, p. clxxiv. Return to context
23.
This is presumably for a grandson of Robert Toppes (d.1467), mayor of Norwich in 1435, 1440, 1452 and 1458. The other quarterings have not been identified with any certainty. Return to context
24.
Blomefield and Parking 1805–10, IV, p. 171. Return to context
25.
Alderman for St Stephen’s 1650–83, Mayor of Norwich in 1653, and later alderman of London; Hawes 1986, p. 101. Return to context
26.
Hotblack 1910, pp. 250–51. Return to context
27.
Cowen (1985, p. 158) calls this the return of the Prodigal Son. Return to context
28.
Boutell’s Heraldry 1970, pp. 218–19. The badge is commonly called the Prince of Wales’ feathers, but belongs to the prince as heir apparent, even before he is made Prince of Wales. Prince Edward became Prince of Wales in 1454. Return to context
29.
Kent thought this was 19th-c, but it appears to be medieval and is probably for Prince Edward, son of Henry VI, born in 1453, the year in which the council chamber was reglazed. Return to context
30.
This is presumably an earlier form of the shield of the scriveners’ company, the present scriveners’ arms having been granted in 1616; Kent 1929, p. 4. Return to context
Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi

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