The window, donated by Marshall Field I in memory of a First Presbyterian Church minister, Dr. Zephaniah Moore Humphrey, consists of an intricate mosaic of hand-faceted and mold-pressed glass jewels. Tiffany apparently considered this window very important, as he exhibited it in his New York studios before shipping it to Chicago for installation. An article which appeared in the Chicago Tribune at the time of the 1893 unveiling stated in part, “The window is one of the most remarkable pieces of glass work that has ever been placed in any church in the country. It is composed of over 12,000 pieces of glass and each separate piece is artistic in itself. This window is surrounded by a border having all the richness of a silk Persian rug.” Representatives from Canada, England, Germany, China and India attended the original unveiling. In the center panel of the window, an elaborately jeweled cross springs from a bronze medallion, which is surrounded by a pattern of hundreds of small jewels. Many of the pieces, the “jewels,” are rough cut chunks of glass which capture and refract the light, much as a carefully cut diamond would do. It is a very valuable window and upon restoration will be among the most dramatic and dazzling in the sanctuary.

The window was painstakingly removed late in March and transported to the Venturella Studio for conservation. It was exciting to see each panel as it was removed and see the jeweled glass up close. What’s even more exciting is to see the pictures that Tom and Jim send to update us on their conservation. They have already worked on several panels.

The Jeweled window, like the windows we have previously restored, is extremely dirty. Removing that dirt is eyepopping. New colors are being revealed. Broken glass is being glued. And Tiffany’s artistry is coming back to life. The conservation will continue until the Spring of 2026, when the window will return for reinstallation and to wow us all.

Photo credit: Martin Cheung