Royal Arms of Elizabeth I, Heraldic Stained Glass Roundel
- Period
- 1580 - 1600
- Origin
- England
- Dimensions
- W 16 1/2" × H 17 3/4 sizes exclude the modern framing"
- Reference
- #Marh3731
Price on application
Description
Heraldic Stained Glass Roundel
This circular heraldic panel depicts the Royal Arms of Queen Elizabeth I (reigned 1558–1603), quartering the arms of England and France beneath the initials “ER” (Elizabeth Regina). The shield displays the traditional royal quarterings used throughout Elizabeth’s reign: the fleurs-de-lis of France alternating with the three lions passant guardant of England, reflecting the English Crown’s historic claim to the French throne.
The arms are enclosed within a decorative border of Tudor roses and foliate ornament, emblematic of the Tudor dynasty and the union of the Houses of Lancaster and York. A lion’s head mask forms the lower terminal of the composition, reinforcing the royal and heraldic character of the design.
Panels of this type were commonly commissioned for manor houses, civic buildings, colleges and ecclesiastical settings, where royal heraldry proclaimed loyalty to the Crown and affirmed political allegiance. The inclusion of the royal initials above the shield identifies the achievement specifically with Elizabeth I rather than with the Tudor dynasty in general.
The design may be compared with contemporary Tudor heraldic glass in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, although the present panel is distinguished by the addition of the ER monogram and its distinctive circular composition.
