Huntsman Windows & Bird Chandelier
Commissioned Cir. 1970s
A Special Thanks to Mrs Florkowski & Family for submitting these family photos to be catalogued!
These “Huntsman windows” were commissioned by a family for their home’s dining room and feature a turkey and a buck hand-painted on leaded glass surrounded by a colorful border. They were displayed directly under a chandelier they had also commissioned from Rudolf H. Buenz. In the right window, a turkey hanging from a pine branch. In the left window, a buck’s head surrounded by oak branches and a horn, with a satchel hanging from it’s neck. Buenz adored nature and most enjoyed work depicting wildlife or hunting scenes.
The windows have been taken out of their original owner’s home and placed in the care of one of their daughters after they had passed away. The original plans for the Buck’s Head window were found in Buenz’ home studio and remained with his family after his passing. The “cartoon” for it as been preserved and is in the personal collection of Rudi Buenz’ Grandson.
The “Huntsman Windows” and bird chandelier in their original home in Sparta, New Jersey.
The Family seated at their dining table in front of stained glass windows by Rudolf H Buenz.
The “Bird Chandelier”, also commissioned by the family, once hung in their dining room alongside the stained glass Huntsman Windows. The Chandelier was removed from the original home after the owners had passed away and now resides with one of the original owner’s daughters where it has been lovingly enjoyed for some time.
The round panels of white opaque glass feature 8 different hand-painted birds common to the area around Sparta, New Jersey. The top 8 panels of white glass have a hand-painted flowery Dogwood branches that form an enclosed loop around the top of the chandelier. The rest of the chandelier is a textured royal blue semi-transparent leaded glass.
Original plans for the chandelier show a much more complex design including panels where other larger birds and animals were meant to be. A later revised plan for the chandelier leaves out the other additional panels which may have become their own pieces in the form of the “Huntsman Windows”.
The “cartoons” or life sized drawings for the piece have yet to be located, although Buenz’ home studio had many drawings of local birds that may have been used for this project.
