Old and New Dispensations
Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company
After 1889
Desription
• Types of Glass: 1. Opalescent 2. Drapery 3. Striated 4. Mottled 5. Rippled 6. Hand Cut Jewels 7. Smooth Jewels
• Painting on faces, arms, and hands
• Multiple Layers
Notice the profusion of glass jewels and the dramatic use of drapery glass in this window, which was originally installed at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in New Milford, Connecticut, as a memorial to William Dimon Black. The selection of glass jewels was perhaps inspired by the fact his family owned an old and successful jewelry firm that eventually merged with Gorham. Black donated the land for the church, and his mother-in-law helped underwrite the construction costs for the building. St. Peter’s Masonic Lodge bought the building in 1962 with its windows intact.
Special Features
• The inscriptions consist of ornate lead lettering, which would have taken ten to twenty times longer to create had it been painted and fired.
• The eye cannot help but be drawn to the cross, which is surrounded by stunning hand cut jewels that resemble the pebble decoration on some Tiffany lamps. The hand cut jewels are plated on the front to create subtle color; this is an unusual technique. Light appears to emanate from behind the cross imbuing the window with a golden glow.
• The thick cut amber jewels in the crown sparkle brilliantly.
• The grapes are plated on the front of colored glass to give them their deep purple color.
Biblical Story of the Window
A “dispensation” is a divinely appointed age in which God reveals a system of commands and promises regulating human affairs. For example, there is the old Mosaic or Jewish dispensation and the new gospel or Christian dispensation. In this window, Moses is the prominent figure, and he represents the Old Dispensation. The New Dispensation refers to Christ and the cross. This window may also represent the transition from the Old to the New Testament. The crown, cross, and grape vines represent Jesus Christ. The light pouring forth represents the grace of God, and it touches all the figures in the window.