At 22 feet in diameter and rising 9 feet, the colorful piece was mesmerizing. The dealer explained that it had been crafted at the turn of the 20th century by a company that filled orders for Tiffany when its own workrooms were full. For many years, it had crowned the First Baptist Church in Canton, Ohio. When the congregation began construction of a new place of worship, Great Gatsby’s purchased the original church and began selling the individual furnishings and architectural components.
Plans for DSBG’s Robert Lee Stowe Visitor Pavilion called for a cupola to be set atop Founders Hall, so that light coming through it would flood the foyer. Mike envisioned the stained glass dome set underneath the cupola, bathing the building’s entryway in colored light. With this in mind, he inquired about buying the piece, but was told that it was scheduled to go to auction in a few days. However, after receiving the Board’s approval for the purchase, Mike convinced the dealer to sell it to the Garden instead. The stained-glass dome was then transported to The Looking Glass in Rock Hill, South Carolina for restoration.
When Mike returned to the Garden, he examined the plans for the Visitor Pavilion foyer, expecting to find that the dome he had purchased would need alterations in order to fit the space beneath the cupola. To his great surprise, he found that the plans called for a 22-square-foot ceiling… precisely the diameter of the piece he had purchased.
For more information on Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden click on: FAQ • Gardens • Dome • DSBG Main Page or visit: www.dsbg.org
