A Clooth of Gold that Bright Shoon*

Photo: Matt Spour

 

2023/24

The Whittington Building, Frederick's Place, City of London, UK

Stained Glass, screen printing, reverse glass gilding.​

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*The title of the work comes from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: The Clerk’s Prologue and Tale – 1395

The panels show a weave of a cloth of gold which (on the right panel) descends into the streets of The City of London - paved with gold - as
per Lord Mayor (and Mercer) Dick Whittington folklore. The Mercers Livery Hall is marked by a Mercer’s Maiden image ghosted on red glass.
Also on the right panel the cloth is attached to the sheep’s golden fleece. The sheep’s wool gave the Mercers means to provide future
generations with opportunity. So, on the left panel a strand of the cloth is caught by a girl who has benefitted from the Mercer’s
philanthropy and who reaches up to embrace her bright future.
The panels are partly inspired by The Wilton Diptych which was painted in the 1390’s, the same time the Mercers were granted their charter.

The two City hills in the design (Ludgate and Cornhill) are decorated in the same background pattern as seen on a panel of The Wilton Diptych. The use of blue and gold, albeit a steelier blue, are also inspired by this medieval treasure. ‘Presenting’ and ‘receiving’ as a mutual benefit is a theme of both this and The Wilton Diptych.

The work reflects the nearby architecture. The weave compliments the neighbouring façade of the new Mercer Archive building. The
wooden slats above the two panels should look like they flow into the warp (vertical lines) of the cloth.

The golden streets at the bottom of the panel will catch the passing eyes of pedestrians from the outside. The streets shown in the design
include the very (new) alley they will be walking along.
From the interior, the warm, yellow-orange weave at the top of the panels is more visible. It should remind visitors of the Mercer’s foundation.