Early Modern stained glass coats of arms as means of family, social status and remembrance
Keywords:
lasimaalaus, vaakuna, rälssi, keskiaika, uuden ajan alkuAbstract
Only a few unbroken stained glass windows have survived from the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Early Modern time in Finland. In the Middle Ages, motifs were mainly related to saints. The preserved stained glass also includes a stained glass coat of arms from the end of the Middle Ages. In addition to this single coat of arms glass painting, about twenty stained glass coats of arms from the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century are preserved. These coats of arms dating to the Early Modern period belonged to the upper class of the era's social structure. The aim of this article is to analyze and present the stained glass coat of arms material from the area of present-day Finland dating back to the Early Modern time. In addition to preserved stained glass, the source material includes now-lost paintings, about which there is information in later sources. The phenomenon is connected to a wider Nordic context. The article examines also possible motives that might have been behind donating the stained glass coats of arms. It can be concluded that at the Early Modern times, the custom of coat of arms is related to the so-called old nobility “Rälssi”. Stained glass coats of arms as a phenomenon has only affected a small part of the nobility of the era. Stained glass coats of arms are related to the tradition of remembering and maintaining it. In addition it is manifestation of power. Despite the fact that the material is small, it can nevertheless be concluded that the tradition of donating continues from the Middle Ages to the Reformation. The perspective of the article's research is the extent of the stained glass coat of arms phenomenon. How the stained glass windows and coat of arms manifested the importance of family and social status. The article examines also the possible motives behind the donation. Stained glass material is mostly unknown and its potential as a research material has received less attention. This article aims to fill this research gap.
