Lower Merion Conservancy: Tiffany Stained Glass Tour

Tiffany Stained Glass Tour
Local glassworks by the world's greatest glass artist
Sunday, June 3, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
$35 LMC member/$40 non-member
Tour of homes and churches begins at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr

Louis Comfort Tiffany was, in many people's opinion, the greatest stained glass artist the world has ever known. Unknown to many, several of his firm's treasured works exist here in Lower Merion - in several local churches and private homes. For one special day, this exclusive tour opens doors to these windows (and other glassworks).

Tiffany, son of the founder of the jewelry store that still bears the family name, was not interested in the jewelry business. Instead, after training as a painter, he became interested in glassmaking as a decorative art. He used glass to create the effect of painting, without applying enameled decoration.

By the 1890s, with many new churches being built in prospering cities, Tiffany was experimenting with the renewed medium of colored glass. To suit his artistic vision, he began making his own - iridescent, ingrained with color, and containing artful impurities.

The tour begains at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Chapel, whose stunning Tiffany windows will soon be removed for restoration. These windows were orginially installed as memorials in the orginial 1886 church. The foundation and three walls of that church formed the framework for the present chapel; these iridescent windows are located in the Children's Chapel section.

After learning a bit about Tiffany's innovative artistry, you will be given your tour map and guide to self-tour at least six special sites with Tiffany works. We have asked all of the churches involved to help make sure the sun in shining brightly on this special day, although the tour will be spectacular rain or shine!