Carl Huneke (19 June 1898 – 18 June 1972) was a German-American stained glass artist and master craftsman. Ownership, Proprietor of the Century Stained Glass Studio in San Francisco, California, Carl designed and created more than 1,000 stained glass windows in 70 Church (building), churches and other buildings, mostly in Northern California.

Biography

Early life

Carl Johan Jacob Hüneke was born on 19 June 1898 in Achim bei Bremen, Germany to Johann and Johanna Helmcke Hüneke. Carl was one of nine children, the middle of three boys. Johann Hüneke was a postal worker who died when Carl was nine years old. Carl finished his formal schooling at fourteen and needed to find an apprenticeship. Carl had been drawing and painting since he was a small child and wanted to work somewhere art-related. His mother was not able to find what Carl wanted in suburban Achim, so she traveled to the nearby city of Bremen and found a Retail shop, shop that made stained glass windows for churches and wealthy homes.

Training

In June 1912, Carl began his apprenticeship at Fritz Bauermann's stained glass shop in Bremen, Germany. Carl learned all the basic operations of making stained glass windows. He poured lead into ingots; hand-operated the came lead machine, which turned the lead ingots into strips for stained glass production; cemented Waterproofing, (waterproofed) the leaded glass and cut glass from patterns. Carl also learned how to lead, solder and install stained glass windows. During Carl's apprenticeship, he attended art school at night. In class, Carl learned about dimension, Perspective (graphical), perspective, proportion (architecture), proportion and balance of color. Eventually, Carl was able to make designs and sketch (drawing), sketches for the windows, draw full sized cartoons, lay out the patterned drawings from which the glass is cut and finally paint and kiln-fire the colored glass. In 1921, Carl Huneke received his craftsman certification papers and by 1922 his training was complete.

Immigration and the Great Depression

Due to the dire economic conditions in Germany in the aftermath of WWI, Carl left for America in 1925. After a short stop at Ellis Island, Carl took a train to meet cousins, already living in San Francisco. Carl immediately started studying oil painting and English at night school, adapting well to his new environment. After some Job hunting, job-hunting, Carl began working for Edward La Potka at Church Art Glass Studio. By the early 1930s, the Great Depression ended most stained glass work in San Francisco. Until opportunities were available again, Carl ran a small grocery store with his wife, Lee. Only one opportunity for employment occurred during the depths of the depression. Charles Jay Connick designed and installed stained glass windows for Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. The world renowned Connick Studio was located in Boston, so Carl was hired out of the Trade union, union hall in San Francisco to help install those windows. That started a decades long relationship between the two artists and resulted in Carl installing Connick windows in several San Francisco Bay Area, Bay Area churches over the next thirty years. It was Charles Connick who recommended to St. Vincent de Paul Church, San Francisco, St. Vincent de Paul Church that Carl Huneke create their windows.

Century Stained Glass Studio

By the end of the 30s, stained glass jobs returned and Carl went back to work for Church Art Glass Studio. Carl became their principal artist. After creating just two windows for a much larger commission at what is now the Cathedral of the Annunciation (Stockton, California), Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton, California, Stockton, Church Art Glass Studio was fired. The very demanding Monsignor William E. McGough had given specific instructions as to the color tone of the windows. He disliked the colors of the windows produced by Church Art Glass. Monsignor McGough knew Carl also preferred windows with the brilliant blue characteristic of Chartres Cathedral. And, he liked Carl and his work. So, the monsignor insisted that Carl finish the windows in his church. With Edward La Potka's blessing, Carl took over the job and started his own business, launching the Century Stained Glass Studio. From the studio's launch in 1942 to Carl Huneke's death in 1972, Century Stained Glass Studio created, installed and maintained stained glass windows in churches, chapels, convents, schools, hotels and hospitals. File:CenturyStainedGlass.jpg File:1953 Carl Huneke Century Stained Glass Studio.jpg, 1953 – Century Stained Glass Studio

Personal life

In 1935, Huneke married Vienna-born Leopoldine (Lee) Tham and became stepfather to her son, Rudy Tham. Carl and Lee had a daughter of their own, Margaret Lee Huneke Blaine (Marge). Carl was a devoted husband, father, step-father and grandfather. Early in his marriage to Carl's daughter Marge, Carl's son-in-law, Terry Blaine, helped Carl in his studio. A love of Carl's Work of art, artwork and process developed and Terry spent years photographing Carl's windows. Together with Marge, they have preserved many of Carl's business documents and original drawings. Several of Carl's stained glass windows and oil paintings are in his family's homes today, enjoyed by Carl and Lee's children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren.

Work

Huneke's Techniques

Leaded stained glass

On a rigid frame, pieces of cut, colored glass were arranged into a design and held together with strips of lead. The pieces of cathedral glass were relatively thin (about 1/8" thick) and flat compared to thicker faceted glass pieces.

Faceted Glass – Dalle de Verre

On a rigid frame, pieces of cut, colored glass were arranged into a design and epoxy was poured into the frame to set the glass. The pieces of glass were cut Three-dimensional space, three-dimensionally and could sometimes be much larger than pieces for leaded stained glass. File:Carl Huneke's Miracle at Cana Stained Glass vs. Faceted Glass.jpg, Miracle at Cana - Stained Glass vs. Faceted Glass

Carl's Leaded Stained Glass Process

Preliminary Pencil Sketches Carl made preliminary pencil sketches of the subject of the window. They were small in scale, meant to convey an impression of the full-sized window. Cartoons Carl's full size cartoons were the design for the finished stained glass window on a template the size of the window opening. These full size cartoons had the size and shape of each individual piece of stained glass laid out in a pattern. Cutline Drawings From the cartoon, Carl made cutline drawings with lead-lines outlining where the individual pieces of glass were to be placed. Pattern Drawings Carl's pattern drawings were a replica of the cutline drawing. The pattern drawings were cut where the lead-lines went. Those cuts removed a narrow strip of paper, allowing for the exact space of the lead between the pieces of glass. Cutting A sheet of glass with the desired color was selected from the raw stock. The thickness of the sheet of glass was approximately 1/8". The cutter placed the pattern on the glass and with a handheld glass cutter, cut the glass to the shape of the pattern. Painting On the pieces of newly cut glass, Carl used vitrifiable paint to draw the main outlines of the cartoon. When glass is fired in a kiln, the vitrifiable paint fuses with the glass, to provide shading or color variations. Patterning was added in halftone mattes, controlling how much light shines through the glass as well as harmonizing colors. To approximate the light which would shine through the glass, much of this painting was done on a plate glass easel with the pieces held by beeswax. Since his easel was only large enough for one panel at a time, the full window could only be seen when it was installed. Firing The painted pieces of glass were fired in the kiln to fuse the paint into the glass. Sometimes more firings were required to properly achieve the shading or color variation desired. Glazing A glazier spread the cutline drawing on a glazier's bench. Laths were nailed down along two edges of the drawing to form a right angle. Long strips of wide lead were placed along the inside edges of the laths. Each piece of glass belonging in the angle was fitted into the grooved lead. This process continued until all the lead and each piece of glass was placed in the cutline drawing. Soldering The many joints formed by the lead were soldered. Cementing The nearly complete stained glass window was set by rubbing putty on both sides to make it firm and watertight. Delivery and Installation Before any window left the shop, Carl did a final inspection of each panel on an upright glass easel. Large stained glass windows were made in sections to make it easy for one person to handle. The sections were packed and shipped to their destination, where they were installed and secured by reinforcing bars. File:1953 Carl Huneke and Bill Steadman working at Century Stained Glass.jpg File:1953 Carl Huneke installing his stained glass window.jpg File:1953 Carl Huneke Studio .jpg, 1953 Carl Huneke

Carl's Faceted Glass Process

The dalle de verre (Glass Slab) technique was developed in France in the 1930s. To create a more modern look, thick dalle de verre glass is used and is faceted by chipping the surface and edges. The faceted glass creates dramatic effects when sunlight shines through the window, adding brilliant life to the mosaic designs. This technique allows for extremely large windows. It is possible to cover an entire wall with this vivid art form. By the mid-1950s, French designers were using this technique in American buildings. By the end of the 50s, Carl was intrigued and decided to start experimenting. Carl used a matrix of high strength epoxy after trying concrete. The epoxy produced a much stronger panel which was also lighter, more weather resistant and allowed much more glass edge to be exposed, enhancing the brilliance of the window. The epoxy color was also a more pleasing natural stone color and could be sanded on the inside with light-colored Monterrey sand. Carl and many of his customers were pleased with the results and Carl became one of the first American stained glass artists to produce faceted dalle de verre windows commercially. Preliminary Pencil Sketches Miniature pencil sketches of each window were made in proportions which could be expanded to the full size of the window. Carl would often make several copies of each drawing, sometimes with colored pencils. Carl would draw different combinations until he found the optimum balance of light and dark, color and contrast and a pleasing composition of the scene. Cartoons Cartoons, the full-sized window plans, served as a guide for the finished faceted glass window. The size and shape of each piece of glass were selected. The cartoon often had a splash of watercolor indicating the color of each piece. For large windows, a cartoon was created for each panel. File:Carl Huneke's pencil sketch for The Nativity at St. Stephen's Church in San Francisco, CA.jpg, Pencil Sketch - The Nativity File:Carl Huneke's cutline drawing for The Nativity at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in San Francisco, CA.jpg, Pencil Sketch - The Nativity File:Carl Huneke's drawing (cartoon) of The Nativity for St. Stephen's Catholic Church in San Francisco, CA.jpg, Cartoon - The Nativity File:Carl Huneke's faceted glass window - The Nativity - St. Stephen Catholic Church in San Francisco, CA.jpg, The Nativity - St. Stephen Church, San Francisco, CA Patterning A 1' wood frame was made with the exact outside dimensions of the cartoon. A transparent sheet of plastic was cut to the same size. The cartoon was placed on a work table. The plastic was taped to the cartoon and the frame was nailed to the cartoon and plastic, holding them firmly in place. Cutting Slabs (Dalles) of glass with the desired color were selected from a raw stock. The dalles were approximately 8"x12"x1". The dalles were shaped with a Diamond blade, diamond saw or a glass cutter. Facets were created with a hammer by striking the edges of the glass pieces. Chipping thick glass in this way created conchoidal fractures. Those fractures refracted light, producing a brilliant gem-like depth. Reflections on Glass 20th Century Stained Glass in American Art and Architecture

Reflections on Glass 20th Century Stained Glass in American Art and Architecture

For detail work such as faces, Carl used the edge of a diamond saw blade with multiple cuts, followed by lateral smoothing. That technique produced smooth, curved, concave edges. Small pieces were also cut to shape with the diamond saw. Assembly All the faceted glass pieces were arranged precisely on the cartoon to assess the finished composition. Each piece was then individually lifted out and liquid latex was applied to the bottom. The piece was then glued directly onto the plastic sheet overlaying the cartoon, in its final location. Epoxy was poured between the glass pieces and allowed to harden, usually a full day and night. The glass was then thoroughly cleaned. Delivery and Installation Once any of Carl's windows was complete, the delivery and installation routines were basically the same. A final inspection and then sections of the windows were shipped and installed.

Exhibitions

Reflections on Glass: 20th Century Stained Glass in American Art and Architecture: The Gallery at the American Bible Society, 13 December 2002 – 15 March 2003

References

External links

Huneke Stained Glass
Archival website for the work of Carl Huneke.
Remembering My Father
Carl Huneke, a California Stained Glass Artist: 19 June 1898 – 18 June 1972 by Marge Huneke Blaine

Gallery

Leaded Stained Glass

File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - I Am The Light of the World - Compass Church, Salinas CA.jpg, I Am The Light of the World - Compass Church, Salinas File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window of The Crucifixion in St. Vincent de Paul Church in San Francisco, CA.jpg, The Crucifixion - St. Vincent de Paul Church, San Francisco File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - The Annunciation - Cathedral of the Annunciation, Stockton, CA.jpg, The Annunciation - Cathedral of the Annunciation, Stockton File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - St Dominic and St. Catherine - Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose.jpg, St. Dominic & St. Catherine - Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, San Jose File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - St. Joseph in St. Anne's Chapel in Fresno, CA.jpg, St. Joseph - St. Anne's Chapel, Fresno File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - The Holy Trinity - St. Jarlath Catholic Church in Oakland, CA.jpg, The Holy Trinity - St. Jarlath Catholic Church, Oakland File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - St. Christopher at St. Joan of Arc Church in Yountville, CA.jpg, St. Christopher - St. Joan of Arc Church, Yountville File:Carl Huneke's Stained Glass Window - Santa Maria at Santa Maria Church in Orinda, CA.jpg, Santa Maria - Santa Maria Church, Orinda File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - Christ Preaching to the Multitudes - Saratoga Federated Church, Saratoga, CA.jpg, Christ Preaching to the Multitudes - Saratoga Federated Church, Saratoga File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - Go Therefore, Teach Ye All Nations at Campbell UCC, Campbell, CA.jpg, Go Therefore, Teach Ye All Nations - Campbell UCC, Campbell File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - The Joyful Mysteries at St. Joseph of Cupertino Church, Cupertino, CA.jpg, The Joyful Mysteries - St. Joseph of Cupertino Church, Cupertino File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - Sacred Heart of Jesus & St. Ann at Holy Cross Church, Linden, CA.jpg, Sacred Heart of Jesus & St. Ann - Holy Cross Church, Linden File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - The Evangelists at The Cathedral of the Annunciation, Stockton, CA.jpg, The Evangelists - The Cathedral of the Annunciation, Stockton File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - Our Lady of Angels at Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame, CA.jpg, Our Lady of Angels - Our Lady of Angels Church, Burlingame File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - The Good Shepherd at Sisters of the Holy Family Motherhouse, Fremont, CA.jpg, The Good Shepherd - Sisters of the Holy Family Motherhouse, Fremont File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - Saint Therese, The Little Flower at St. John the Baptist Church in Healdsburg, CA.jpg, St. Therese, The Little Flower - St. John the Baptist Church, Healdsburg File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - Agony in the Garden at St. Charles Borromeo Church in San Francisco, CA.jpg, Agony in the Garden - St. Charles Borromeo Church, San Francisco

Faceted – Dalle de Verre Glass

File:Carl Huneke's faceted glass window - Young Jesus Teaching in the Temple at St. Felicitas Church in San Leandro, CA.jpg, Young Jesus Teaching in the Temple - St. Felicitas Church, San Leandro File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - The Resurrection with the Seven Sacraments at St. Felicitas Catholic Church, San Leandro, CA.jpg, The Resurrection with the Seven Sacraments - St. Felicitas Catholic Church, San Leandro File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - The Coronation of The Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Stephen Church, San Francisco, CA.jpg, The Coronation of The Blessed Virgin Mary - St. Stephen Church, San Francisco File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - The Baptism of Jesus with the Seven Sacraments at Holy Spirit Church in Fremont, CA.jpg, The Baptism of Jesus with the Seven Sacraments - Holy Spirit Church, Fremont File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - Peace on Earth & Christ's Gift to Mankind at Palm Springs Church of Christ, Palm Springs, CA.jpg, Peace on Earth & Christ's Gift to Mankind - Palm Springs CC, Palm Springs File:Carl Huneke's stained glass window - The Holy Spirit at Holy Spirit Church, Fairfield, CA.jpg, The Holy Spirit - Holy Spirit Church, Fairfield File:Carl Huneke's faceted glass window - Our Lady Queen of the World at St. Felicitas Church in Fairfield, CA.jpg, Our Lady Queen of the World - St. Felicitas Church, Fairfield File:Carl Huneke's faceted glass window - The Ascension at St. Leander Church, San Leandro, CA.jpg, The Ascension - St. Leander Church, San Leandro File:Carl Huneke's faceted glass window - St. Robert & St. Aloysius at St. Ignatius College Preparatory Chapel, San Francisco, CA.jpg, St. Robert & St. Aloysius - St. Ignatius College Preparatory Chapel, San Francisco File:Carl Huneke's faceted glass window - IHS at St. Ignatius College Preparatory Chapel, San Francisco, CA.jpg, IHS - St. Ignatius College Preparatory Chapel, San Francisco File:Carl Huneke's faceted glass window - The Holy Family-Young Jesus at Holy Spirit Church, Fairfield, CA.jpg, The Holy Family-Young Jesus - Holy Spirit Church, Fairfield File:Carl Huneke's faceted glass window - The Baptism of Christ at St. Leander Church, San Leandro, CA.jpg, The Baptism of Christ - St. Leander Church, San Leandro File:Carl Huneke's faceted glass windows - Blessing & Communion at St. Helen’s Church, Fresno, CA.jpg, Blessing & Communion - St. Helen's Church, Fresno {{DEFAULTSORT:Huneke, Carl German glass artists German emigrants to the United States 1898 births 1972 deaths American glass artists