Consider the hands that once shaped vibrant glass. The Christopher Whall Blue plaque honors a master of stained glass. Christopher Whall was a key figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. This plaque commemorates where he lived and worked.
Christopher Whitworth Whall was born in 1849. His birthplace was Thurning Northamptonshire. His father William Whall was a rector. Christopher was educated at home with his siblings. Later he attended Rossall School.
Whall’s artistic journey wasn’t initially clear. He hoped to be a portrait painter. Commissions were scarce early on. A turning point came when he met A. H. Mackmurdo. Mackmurdo founded the Century Guild. Whall contributed to their publication.
In 1878 Whall converted to Catholicism in Lucca. Upon returning to London penniless the Rosminian Order of Charity helped him. He became a lay member. At St Etheldreda’s Church Whall designed side windows. W. G. Saunders made these windows.
Whall’s independent career began in the late 1880s. This coincided with the Arts and Crafts movement’s rise. He actively participated in organizations like the Art Workers’ Guild. In 1912 Whall became Master of the Art Worker’s Guild.
A life-changing event occurred in 1887. Whall converted his cow-shed into a workshop in Dorking. He mastered all craft processes himself. This protested the division of labor common in commercial manufacturing. Whall believed this division was incompatible with art. Louis Davis and Reginald Hallward assisted Whall.
Whall’s style included nature images. He used many glass colors and textures. His application of white glass was unique. He included slab glass early on. His work used Prior’s Early English glass innovatively.
For a decade after leaving Dorking in 1896 Whall lacked his own facilities. He worked closely with Lowndes and Drury. Mary Lowndes and Drury founded the firm. It aimed to provide independent craft workers with facilities.
The Central School of Art and Crafts hired Whall in 1896. He taught stained glass. His students came from diverse backgrounds. Alfred Drury an experienced glazer assisted him. Whall’s teaching method combined observation and workmanship.
Whall also taught at the Royal College of Art. He began informally in 1897. He gained a formal position in 1901. A kiln wasn’t available so students fired glass at Lowndes and Drury.
Whall wrote an instructional book Stained Glass Work. It was published in 1905. This manual remains influential.
In 1907 Whall established his own studio-workshop. It was located at 1 Ravenscourt Park Hammersmith. Charles Spooner converted the building. The studio had labor-saving devices. Whall fostered a collaborative environment. Plants and insects inspired color and design.
By the early 1920s Whall had leukemia. Edward Woore managed his studio. In 1922 Whall created Whall & Whall Limited. His daughter Veronica became co-director. She was a skilled artist. Christopher Whall died in 1924.
Whall influenced artists in Ireland and the United States. Wilhelmina Geddes was one artist. Ralph Adams Cram introduced Whall’s work to the United States.
Whall married Florence M. Chaplin in 1884. They had five children. His family often modeled for his windows.
Now you know a little about the man behind the Christopher Whall Blue plaque. His legacy lives on in stained glass art.