Stephen Adam and Co.

STEPHEN ADAM & Co., Glass Stainers and Decorators, 231, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

    It is now exactly a quarter of a century since Messrs. Adam and Small established the well-known glass staining and decorating business now conducted with so much success by Mr. Stephen Adam, trading under the designation mentioned at the head of this review. The proprietor of these stained glass works is an accomplished master of the beautiful art of which he has made such a profound study ; and possessing a mature experience in all departments of decorative work, coupled with artistic talent of a high order, he is in a position to complete with success the largest contracts in glass staining and its kindred departments of industry. Under Mr. Adam’s management the house has become one of the most noted concerns in Scotland in its line, and has maintained a splendid reputation in every branch of decoration by means of stained glass.

    The fine premises in St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, impress the visitor with a sense of their suitability to the purposes of the business. The premises comprise six spacious flats, admirably equipped in all parts, and devoted to — (1) Workshops for lead working ; (2) The drawing and designing of cartoons and painting of patterns for approval, before proceeding to the final operations ; (3) Glass painting and staining workshops ; (4) The kilns for firing the glass after the process of staining ; (5) For stock of material ; and (6) Packing department. The operations and processes associated with each of these departments are of the most interesting character and afford employment to executants of the highest skill and talent.

    The house has carried out many notable contracts both in connection with ecclesiastical window work, public institutions, hotels, restaurants, banks, etc., etc., and the work executed is creditable alike to the firm and to the places in which Messrs. Stephen Adam and Company’s stained glass has been placed. The trade of the house extends over the whole of the United Kingdom and the Colonies. The business is constantly experiencing extension in scope and, through Mr. Adam’s influence, becomes more widely known every day. Prize medals were obtained for excellence at the London and Edinburgh Exhibitions, and, what is probably to the firm a more valuable tribute of commendation, the patronage of the house is ever receiving the most flattering augmentation from among circles critically alive to the merits of their artistic productions.

    As an evidence of the high popularity attained by the house, we may mention that within the past ten years Mr. Adam has completed for patrons no fewer than two hundred and twenty stained glass memorial windows in various parts of the world. Prominent among these may be mentioned the “James Baird” memorial in Alloway Church ; also the “Ainslie and Galbraith” windows in Old Greyfriar’s, Stirling ; the “Spier’s” memorial, Paisley Abbey ; the “Ramsden” memorial, Todcaster Parish Church, Yorkshire ; “Houldsworth” memorial, Coltness Church ; Colonel Buchanan’s gift of windows to Coatbridge; the “Corry” memorial, Elmwood Church, Belfast ; “Kidston” memorial, Cambuslang ; “Smollett” memorial, Bonhill ; “Clark” memorial, Paisley, etc., etc., etc. Every specimen of the firm’s work is characterised by extreme breadth and mastery of detail, rich harmony of colouring, and perfect technique, and no connoisseur can fail to appreciate the artistic taste displayed in every detail of the work carried out.

    Mr. Adam is a native of Midlothian, having been born at Bonnington, Edinburgh, in 1848. He received his art training in the Government School of Art and the Haldane Academy, where, at an early age, he evinced phenomenal talent and carried off prize medals for skill and studious application. He subsequently — while still a young man — commenced in his present business, wherein he has met with the highest success. Mr. Stephen Adam is a gentleman of exceptional culture and erudition. He is a prominent member of the Philosophical Society and of the Society of Literature and Arts. His views on decorative art are well known by his lectures before the leading philosophical and architectural societies, while his published works on “Stained Glass; its History and modern Development”, and “Truth in Art” have secured for him a high reputation. As an art critic his abilities were expressly recognised by his appointment to a position on the Executive of the Glasgow East End Exhibition. In every sphere in which this gentleman exercises his influence he is a decided acquisition, and his counsels are are received with the most marked respect and attention.

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