During the medieval period, artists and artisans invented the stained-glass technique to embellish architectural interiors. Colored glass pieces were painted and fastened together in lead frames to fashion pictures and ornamental designs that were placed in windows. Light shining through these windows created walls of color that transformed ecclesiastic interiors into otherworldly, spiritual spaces.
This small quatrefoil is a fragment from a much larger window. It consists of a central square panel, or “boss,” surrounded by eight lobes decorated with leaf designs. An unusual ornamental knot encloses a small decorative motif at the center of the boss. This distinctive motif suggests a Norman or Rouennaise origin for the object. The quatrefoil also exhibits interesting asterisk-shaped maker’s marks on the backside of each lobe. These marks help historians understand the artisan’s production methods. The deep blues, rich yellows, and bright reds create a beautiful ensemble of primary colors that is characteristic of French stained-glass during the thirteenth century. Each panel is delicately hand-decorated with black paint, and the brush strokes are visible upon close inspection.