Corning Rotary contributes to Frederick Carder War Memorial window project
The Corning Rotary Club contributed to the relocation and rededication of the Frederick Carder World War 1 Memorial Window.
Renowned glass artist and designer Frederick Carder (1863-1963), the first director of Steuben Glass Works and a design director at Corning Glass Works, created this cast glass window in circa 1930 to honor soldiers from Corning who died in the First World War, including his son, Cyril.
The female figure, Victory, holds a shield on which the soldiers’ names are inscribed. The medallion on the left represents the soldiers and includes an image of Cyril Carder’s face. The face in the medallion on the right, which honors nurses who served in the war, is Alice Keeler, a secretary at Steuben who also served as the model for the Victory figure. Images of sunsets at the bottom of the window portray death, while sunrises in the top corners represent hope and peace. Finally, the eternal flame commemorates all who served.
During the 82 years he worked with glass, Carder produced many works that are dazzling in their virtuosity. Together, they include hundreds of colors and techniques which Carder perfected, including the casting method used to create this window, cire perdue (lost wax)..
A memorial to lives lost in defense of freedom, the window is also a reminder of Carder’s artistry and many contributions to the City of Corning.
The Frederick Carder World War I Memorial Window was installed in 1930 in the now-closed Corning War Memorial Library at First and Pine Streets, where it resided for many years. After several years at The Rockwell Museum, it now stands on permanent display at City Hall.
The plaques hanging beside the window commemorate the citizens of Corning killed in action in the First World War, Second World War, Korean War, and Vietnam War.