Canterbury Cathedral South Window Analysis

The South Window of Canterbury Cathedral has long been one of the largest and eldest stained glass windows in existence. A factor that has had an impact on the ongoing restoration process is the high content of potassium oxide in the glass. Its presence renders the window more susceptible to the damages caused by pollutants. This study aims to analyze the making and restoration of the South Window of Canterbury Cathedral in relation to the potassium oxide that contributed to its deterioration. A brief overview of the South Window (fig. 1) reveals that it is located in Canterbury Cathedral, the home of the largest collection of English Medieval stained glass. Situated in the Southwest transept (fig. 2), it sits across from the centrally located choir area. The last three rows of the window contain twenty-two twelfth century panels salvaged from the great fire of 1174.1 These panels were installed during the eighteenth century, hence little of the window’s original fourteenth century glass remains. Some panels have suffered damage due to structural instability and pollution. Arthur J. Femenella, stained …show more content…
The challenge in restoration that arises from its usage is that it is difficult to repair damaged areas. This is due to the fact that in order for the vitreous paint to achieve permanence, the glass must be fired in a kiln. One infers that if restorers were to fire the fragile, aged glass, it would not survive the extreme temperatures. Thus, restorers must decide whether they should apply vitreous paint to the faded area with the knowledge that it will not be permanent, or simply leave the paint in its present condition. From an aesthetic perspective, painting the window would be preferable, however, in many cases it may be better to leave the fragile paint layer unrestored. It must be noted that if the paint were to be reapplied, it might provide some added protection to the potassium oxide