The Glass Heart - Exhibition

Two Temple Place

Two Temple Place is one of the finest buildings in London. Commissioned by William Waldorf Astor and completed in 1895, the house is a neo-gothic gem. The wooden staircase with its wooden statues, and the carved and embellished doors are just amazing. These days it is owned by The Bulldog Trust and is open to the public for free, and offers exhibitions which are always interesting and a little different. Or maybe that's because of the ambiance.

Door - detail

This was my third visit to Two Temple Place, and the exhibition currently on is The Glass Heart. Following the journey of glass through the ages, there is a mix of old and new, but always elegant and colourful. In the first room is a modern piece called Battery - Matters of the Heart by Peter Layton, a flashing arrangement of bulbs in a metal cage and next to it replicas of works for Morris, Marshall Faulkner & Co by Philip Webb and Edward Burne-Jones, etc., followed by vases, plates and glasses delicately embellished in clear or coloured glass.

Battery - Peter Layton (2004)

Designed for Morris, Marshall & Faulkner & Co.

Walking into the Great Hall, one does not know whether to admire the heavily decorated wood-panelled walls or the glass on display. It is a feast for the eyes. Here there are some original glass windows by Clayton & Bell, Sunrise and Sunset (1895) alongside more contemporary stained glass panels.

Clayton & Bell window - Sunrise &Sunset window (part)

Upstairs there are rooms with more displays, including Judge & Jury, 2023 by Chris Day, which I love and is set out on a long table. This is the display used in all the promotional material. Downstairs by the foot of the stairs is a sea themed piece with nets, plants and bowls.