Munich-style Stained Glass

Munich-style stained glass was produced in the Royal Bavarian Stained Glass Manufactory, Munich, in the mid-19th century.

King Ludwig I of Bavaria planned for the first time in Continental Europe the revival of the art of stained glass and established in 1827 the “Königliche Glasmalereianstalt” / “Royal Stained Glass Establishment”. Sigmund Frank, Max Emanuel Ainmiller and Heinrich Maria Hess were entrusted by the King to bring stained glass back to life. They succeeded to develop the Royal Institute to the highest levels. Stained glass windows were designed, fabricated and installed for the Cathedrals of Regensburg and Cologne in Germany, of Glasgow in Scotland, of St. Petersburg in Russia and many others.

The Royal Stained Glass Establishment laid the foundation for Munich as a center for stained glass design and fabrication in the 19th and early 20’s Centuries. Around 1900 some 13 stained glass studios worked in Munich. Franz Mayer of Munich (with approximately 350) and F.X. Zettler (with some 250 employees) were the largest and the best known studios internationally.