A stunning 19th century English stained glass church panel of the Virgin Mary shown with her hands abreast and standing in repose, by ‘Shrigley & Hunt’. The panel is in great condition with beautiful hand blown air inclusions in the glass. Behind the Virgin Mary is a richly decorated backdrop of Pineapples, a symbol of Christianity. Lovely deep coloured glass, with no fading to the hand painting and all in original condition. There is some wear commensurate with age and three small cracks as shown in the left of photo 3.  Currently set into in an ebonised pine frame for display purposes.

Shrigley’s started as a painting, carving and gilding firm in Lancaster, 1750. In 1868, control of the business was passed onto Arthur Hunt, a decorator and stained glass manufacturer from London. Hunt had worked under designer Henry Holiday at the firm of Heaton, Butler & Bayne. Holiday influenced Hunt to create brighter, more realistic and more understandable figures and stories from the bible. Shrigley and Hunt were ranked among the best manufacturers of stained glass , and their work was  regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy.