Stained Glass in Islamic Lands. Trans-Mediterranean Networks, Local Identities and Glass Technology (2025–2029)

The SNSF project “Stained Glass in Islamic Lands”, conducted by the Vitrocentre Romont between 2025–2029, is dedicated to the multifaceted history of stained glass and dalle de verre in North Africa during the 19th and 20th century. At a time when North Africa was under direct or indirect European administration, local and colonial communities in Egypt and the Maghreb adorned secular and religious buildings with colourful windows, which were mostly created by European artists and workshops. The import of stained glass and, from the 1930s onwards, of dalle de verre, contributed to transform the artistic and architectural landscape within these countries. The project’s main objective is to analyse the connections and interplay between production, commercialisation, perception and development of these art forms in the colonial and post-colonial era. It follows an interdisciplinary approach by combining innovative research questions with state-of-the-art methods from the fields of art history, architecture, post-colonial studies, art technology and material analysis.

Project duration: 2025–2029