History & Theory of Stained Glass Conservation - HOA00042M

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Module summary

An overview of a millennium of stained glass creation, repair, restoration and conservation, enabling students to recognise the significance and nature of past interventions, and the full range of options.

Related modules

Co-requisite modules: Conservation Histories (Archaeology module)

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2025-26

Module aims

The module will introduce the long history of stained glass conservation and its sources, ranging from the techniques and practices of the medieval period, the technological and cultural changes brought about by Reformation and Enlightenment, and the international Neo-Gothic revivals of the long nineteenth century. The later seminars of the module will explore the consequences for stained glass of international restoration theory and the introduction of synthetic resins, modern solvents and the implications of developments in materials and environmental science for stained glass conservation in the twenty-first century.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should have acquired:

• an informed and critical understanding of historic approaches to the repair, maintenance and conservation of glass painting, and be conversant with a wide range of primary and secondary sources

• practised familiarity with the essentials of contemporary glass conservation, along with its fundamental texts

• skill in recognising historic and modern conservation techniques

• integrated knowledge of a variety of perspectives, methodologies and approaches in modern stained glass conservation.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100

Module feedback

You will receive feedback on assessed work within the timeframes set out by the University - please check the Guide to Assessment, Standards, Marking and Feedback for more information.

The purpose of feedback is to help you to improve your future work. If you do not understand your feedback or want to talk about your ideas further, you are warmly encouraged to meet your Supervisor during their Office Hours.

Indicative reading

• Brown, Sarah. "The Medieval Glazier at Work." In Investigations in Medieval Stained Glass: Materials, Methods and Expression, edited by Elizabeth Carson Pastan and Brigitte Kurmann-Schwarz, 9-22. Boston: Brill, 2019.
• Brown, Sarah. "Medieval Stained Glass and the Victorian Restorer." 19: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Long Nineteenth Century, no. 30 (2020).
• Brown, Sarah, and Sebastian Strobl. A Fragile Inheritance. The Care of Stained Glass and Historic Glazing. A Handbook for Custodians. London: Church House, 2002.
• Kurmann-Schwarz, Brigitte. "Medieval textual sources on Stained Glass: from Theophilus to the Monk of Zagan." In Investigations in Medieval Stained Glass: Materials, Methods and Expression, edited by Elizabeth Carson Pastan and Brigitte Kurmann-Schwarz, 337-349. Boston: Brill, 2019.
• Rauch, Ivo. The Conservation and Restoration of Stained Glass: An Introduction to the Problems. Nuremberg: CVMA, 2004.
• Vitrearum, Corpus. Guidelines for the Conservation and Restoration of Stained Glass. 2nd ed. Nuremberg: CVMA, 2004.