Description

Lincoln Cathedral’s breathtaking stained glass is one reason many believe this to be the finest Gothic cathedral in the British Isles. Much of its medieval glass has been lost, but what remains is the most important collection of English early thirteenth-century glass after Canterbury Cathedral.

The nineteenth-century windows demonstrate crucial developments in the history of stained glass.

The most famous stained glass are two great rose windows which face one another across the north-south transept of Lincoln Cathedral. The north rose is known as the Dean’s Eye and the south rose as the Bishop’s Eye.

They were first made in the early 13th century and are described in the contemporary Life of St Hugh of Lincoln as “the two eyes of the church”.

As “north represents the devil, and south the Holy Spirit,” it goes on, “it is in these directions that the two eyes look. The bishop faces the South in order to invite in, and the dean the north in order to shun; the one takes care to be saved, the other takes care not to perish.

With these Eyes the cathedral’s face is on watch for the lights of Heaven and the darkness of Oblivion. This beautiful stained glass roundelette is a replica of the Bishop’s Eye.

Measuring 7cm in diameter and framed with lead, the roundelette is made in the UK by Winged Heart and gives the appearance of stained glass.  Finished with a hanging chain and window suction cup to allow for its display, it is supplied in a burgundy gift box.