Geoffrey Clarke British, 1924-2014
Embryo I, 1962
Aluminium and glass
90 (diameter) x 30 cm
35 3/8 x 11 3/4 in
35 3/8 x 11 3/4 in
Unique
Geoffrey Clarke is best known as a sculptor but first enrolled at the Royal College of Art in Graphic Design quickly transferring to the Stained Glass course. There he became...
Geoffrey Clarke is best known as a sculptor but first enrolled at the Royal College of Art in Graphic Design quickly transferring to the Stained Glass course. There he became known for taking an innovative approach to stained glass and graduated with a first-class diploma, a gold medal for outstanding work and a travel scholarship to tour France in the summer of 1951.
In 1952, the year that Clarke also launched his work internationally at the Venice Biennale alongside Lynn Chadwick, Reg Butler and others he was invited with fellow RCA colleagues Keith New and Lawrence Lee to design and make the ten Nave windows for Coventry Cathedral. Under the architect Sir Basil Spence, Coventry was arguably one of the largest and controversial public post-war rebuilding projects and involved a number of commissions by contemporary artists including Elisabeth Frink, John Piper and Graham Sutherland.
Geoffrey Clarke was also a pioneer in using new materials and in the 50s discovered a method of casting aluminium from expanded polystyrene. In 1956 Clark was commissioned to make a circular window for the architect Frankland Dark in London. Returning to the circular format a few years later Clarke this time explored using aluminium in a process which he had now refined. The result was the beautiful 'Embryo I' which is the smaller of two experimental pieces that fuse Clarkes passions for both stained glass and sculpture.
As most examples of Clarke’s stained glass exist in public collections, this is an exceptional piece that is rarely available. 'Embryo I' was exhibited for the first time at 'Back To the Cave - The Full Spectrum', Clearwell Caves in May 2025.
In 1952, the year that Clarke also launched his work internationally at the Venice Biennale alongside Lynn Chadwick, Reg Butler and others he was invited with fellow RCA colleagues Keith New and Lawrence Lee to design and make the ten Nave windows for Coventry Cathedral. Under the architect Sir Basil Spence, Coventry was arguably one of the largest and controversial public post-war rebuilding projects and involved a number of commissions by contemporary artists including Elisabeth Frink, John Piper and Graham Sutherland.
Geoffrey Clarke was also a pioneer in using new materials and in the 50s discovered a method of casting aluminium from expanded polystyrene. In 1956 Clark was commissioned to make a circular window for the architect Frankland Dark in London. Returning to the circular format a few years later Clarke this time explored using aluminium in a process which he had now refined. The result was the beautiful 'Embryo I' which is the smaller of two experimental pieces that fuse Clarkes passions for both stained glass and sculpture.
As most examples of Clarke’s stained glass exist in public collections, this is an exceptional piece that is rarely available. 'Embryo I' was exhibited for the first time at 'Back To the Cave - The Full Spectrum', Clearwell Caves in May 2025.
