Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833 - 1898) for Morris & Co.

painted and stained leaded glass, arched, depicting a robed woman holding a moon aloft against a starry sky, beside her a crab

See A. Charles Sewter, The Stained Glass of William Morris and His Circle - A Catalogue, New Haven and London, 1975, p. 208 for a discussion of the windows made for Mr Holden at Woodlands in 1879.

 

An attractive window in good overall condition. One or two cracked panes and a few repairs, but generally very good for age. Frame not guaranteed. Recently professionally cleaned. Ready for display. A photograph of this window and the other four lots comprising the series hanging together in the saleroom is available upon request.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Nine panels were originally designed by Burne-Jones for Woodlands: `Venus', `Evening Star',` Saturn', `Jupiter', `Luna', `Earth',` Sol', `Morning Star' and `Mars'.  The cartoon for `Morning Star' is at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford; the cartoon for `Mars' is at Birmingham City Art Gallery; and the remaining cartoons are at Torre Abbey in Devon. The entry in the Catalogue of Designs, dated 1879, names the glass painters as follows: `Venus', `Evening Star' and`Sol' by Bowman; `Saturn', `Jupiter',` Luna' and `Earth' by Fletcher; `Morning Star' and `Mars' by Egan.

 

There are three relevant entries in Burne-Jones' account book:

(i)              dated 18^th August, 1878: `1<sup>st</sup> four figures of Planets £15 each viz. Venus, Luna, Morning and Evening Stars. £60`

(ii)            dated 22^nd August, 1878: `Two more, namely Saturn and Mars, £30'; and

(iii)          dated 1^st November, 1878: `Figures of Earth, Jupiter, Apollo £45'.

Each is marginally annotated in another hand `Woodlands'.

 

According to Sewter, the only other commission to have included this group of subjects was for Hume Towers in Bournemouth, Hampshire in 1901. This house was hit by a flying bomb during the Second World War and it is recorded that of the twenty-one windows made for the house, only eight survived.  None of this group was among them.

 

Sewter states that he `found no clue as to the whereabouts of Woodlands'.  However, further research reveals that it was a large mansion on the outskirts of Bradford, built in 1866 for Angus Holden, several times Mayor of Bradford and later Member of Parliament for Bradford East.  The Holden family moved to Nunn Appleton Hall in 1890 and Woodlands was subsequently demolished in 1899.The whereabouts of the windows since this time was until now unknown.