Medieval English Figurative Roundels

Roundels are single sheets of glass, usually circular, that are painted with a self-contained design, and which are often associated with medieval glass from the low countries. This comprehensive and richly illustrated studey shows that large numbers of roundels were produced in England between the late thirteenth century and the mid sixteenth centuries and still survive in churches, secular and civic buildings.

This is a comprehensive catalogue of the large numbers of stained glass roundels produced in England between the late thirteenth century and the mid sixteenth centuries. The majority are decorated with religious images. However, roundels were commonly used in medieval homes and many of the designs provide glimpses of contemporary life and humour - including hybrid creatures and scenes from the agricultural year. This richly illustrated study will be of interest to students of other forms of medieval decorative art, such as misericords, bosses, wall painting and manuscript illumination. It will also be of value to modern practitioners of glass painting who will be intrigued by the complexities of technique and design achieved on such a small scale, and for whom the border and diaper designs will be a useful tool.