Name/Title
SkylightEntry/Object ID
1951.48Description
Round stained glass window with an image of the Vermont state seal. The seal consists of a scenic view of a field with a cow, three sheaves of wheat, and a tall evergreen tree with several mountains in the background. Above the seal is a stag's head, and beneath the crest is a ribbon with the inscription, "FREEDOM VERMONT & UNITY." The window has an iron framework surrounding window and three structural arms attaching to framework at the top, bottom, and both sides. The metal framework was painted with a silver colored paint after the skylight was disassembled.Context
Vermont skylight that hung in the House of Representatives chamber in the US Capitol until 1949.Acquisition
Accession
1951.48Source or Donor
Prouty, Winston Lewis (1906-1971)Acquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Manufacturer
Oertal, JohannesDate made
1857Place
City
WashingtonState/Province
District of ColumbiaCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
SkylightNomenclature Sub-Class
Door & Window ElementsNomenclature Class
Building ComponentsNomenclature Category
Category 01: Built Environment ObjectsDimensions
Dimension Description
OverallHeight
30 inWidth
30 inDepth
1-1/2 inMaterial
Glass, Metal, Paint, IronRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Prouty, Winston Lewis (1906-1971)Related Places
Place
City
WashingtonState/Province
District of ColumbiaCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaPlace
State/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaInterpretative Labels
Label
Skylight, 1857
Johannes Oertel (1823-1909)
Washington, DC
Glass and cast iron
Gift of Winston L. Prouty, 1951.48
This painted glass skylight depicts Vermont’s state seal, as it looked in 1857. The skylight was installed in the new ceiling in the chamber of the US House of Representatives. Johannes Oertel painted the 37 seals of states and territories on glass to represent the extent of the United States at that time.
During renovations to the US Capitol Building in 1949, the iron and glass skylights were removed and replaced with a plaster ceiling. Congressman Winston L. Prouty claimed this piece for the Vermont Historical Society in 1951.