Gibbs (Alexander) & Co
Alexander Gibbs (1832-86) began his education in stained glass under his father, Isaac Alexander Gibbs (1802-51), who had received the family’s first stained glass commission in 1848. Following his father’s death Alexander continued the work of the studio in conjunction with his brother, Charles Alexander Gibbs (1825-77). However, the partnership soon broke up and from 1858 both brothers traded independently.
A third brother, Isaac Alexander Gibbs Jnr (1849-1889), also established his own business, and from 1878 was in partnership with the banker, William Wallace Howard (1856-1941)
The studio of Alexander Gibbs & Co. is particularly noted for its collaborations with the architect, William Butterfield (1814-1900), many of whose designs they fulfilled from the early 1860s. An example of the collaboration is given below at St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth. A particularly admired example of Alexander’s own work can be seen in a fine 1862 west window at St Mary Magdalene, Taunton. The studio continued after the death of Alexander Gibbs and was still active in 1915.
Source: Victorian Stained Glass by Martin Harrison (London : Barrie & Jenkins, 1980)
