Industry and Artistry in Glass (or the Story of John Mallon and the Pacific Glass Staining and Embossing Works)

We are researching and sharing the life and work of American Victorian glass artisan, John Mallon. Please join us!

Introduction: Mystery Windows - A Journey into Stained Glass History

Last year we had the opportunity to restore some interesting windows in San Francisco's Western Addition. The Victorian era house featured several stained glass windows that were all variations of a theme: colorful floral motifs with high texture and generous use of jewels... <click here>

Episode 1: The Big Reveal

Yesterday we shared our plan to learn more about a set of mystery windows we restored a year ago. After some investigation we determined the maker to be none other than John Mallon, proprietor of the Pacific Glass Staining and Embossing Works spanning over 40 years in Victorian-era San Francisco, California... <click here>

Palate Refresher: John Mallon and Victorian American Art Glass Techniques

Take a short stroll with Chicago Art Historian, Rolf Achilles, as he describes various techniques and materials that set American stained glass apart from European artistry... <click here>

Episode 2: a Birdseye View of John Mallon's Life and Career

Before we further proceed we should take a bird’s eye view of Mr. Mallon's life and work... <click here>

Palate Refresher: Take a Tour of Villa Montezuma

As we previously wrote, John Mallon provided a number of windows for Villa Montezuma located in San Diego, California. Built in 1887 for an eccentric musician, spiritualist, and writer, the house is a nice example of Victorian decoration... <click here>

Episode 3: Heavenly Heritage | Windows for the Dominican Sisters

Given their age and lack of documentation, Mallon windows are not easy to find. So imagine our joy when we managed to locate what may be Mallon glass at the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael... <click here>

Palate Refresher: A Case of Mistaken Identity

Having learned of a set of circa 1889 stained glass windows at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, we sought to determine whether they were the work of Mr. John Mallon… <click here>

Episode 4: The Winchester Mystery House Is Now a Little Less Mysterious

Are you one of the millions of people who have visited the Winchester Mystery House? If your answer is “yes”, you probably observed some beautiful stained glass windows throughout the house… <click here>