William Gualbert Saunders
William Gualbert Saunders, known as W Gualbert Saunders, was an English designer of stained glass and founder of the stained glass manufacturers Saunders & Co. He established his manufactury at Endell Street, Covent Garden, in 1859 and subsequently worked with many of the foremost English stained glass designers. Saunders established a long partnership with the architect William Burges, working with him on many of his major commissions, including Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch and Burges's Yorkshire churches.
William Gualbert Saunders
Tim Sheerman-Chase · Flickr: Windows at St Finbarr's Cathedral · Public domain
- Name
- William Gualbert Saunders
- Born
- 1837
- Died
- 1923
- Nationality
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Occupation
- designer
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William Gualbert Saunders, known as W Gualbert Saunders, was an English designer of stained glass and founder of the stained glass manufacturers Saunders & Co. He established his manufactury at Endell Street, Covent Garden, in 1859 and subsequently worked with many of the foremost English stained glass designers. Saunders established a long partnership with the architect William Burges, working with him on many of his major commissions, including Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch and Burges's Yorkshire churches.
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Biography
Biography
David Lawrence and Ann Wilson consider Burges was particularly indebted to Saunders: "his technique [gave] Burges's glass its most distinctive characteristic, namely the flesh colour. This is unique, had no precedents and has had no imitators." Lawrence and Wilson's history of St Fin Barre's has detailed commentaries on the glass there, of which Lawrence writes, "The impact created by all these glowing, coloured religious images is overwhelming and intoxicating. To enter St Fin Barre's Cathedral is an experience unparalleled in Ireland and rarely matched anywhere." In 1880, Saunders handed the company over to his assistant William Worral and retired abroad, "apparently ceasing all artistic activity, at least in this country (although) he lived for (another) 40 years."
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — William Gualbert Saunders • Born — 1837 • Died — 1923 • Notable Works — * Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral • Cardiff Castle • Castell Coch • St Mary's, Studley Royal
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Stainedglass.llgc.org.uk. Saunders & Co. (1869-1880) : Stained Glass in Wales.
- 2.Sussex Parish Churches. Architects and Artists S.
- 3.Lawrence & Wilson, p=93
- 4.Lawrence & Wilson, p=110
- 5.Sussex Parish Churches. Architects and Artists S.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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