Artist/Designer: Ballantine and Gardiner

Location: Town Hall, Kirkwall

Subject: Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, King James III and King Haakon IV of Norway.

Date: 1890s

Photographer: Rona Moody

In 1820s Edinburgh, James Ballantine founded a company of painters and decorators which was to last in various permutations until 1940. Most famous in his lifetime as a poet who liked to dress up in romantic clothes and discuss literature, he became friends with many influential people in the city, and the resulting commissions ensured the company grew. They started making stained glass fairly early on, frequently using outside artists to design their windows. James’ son, Alex, took over the company on his father’s death, briefly teaming up with Herbert Gardiner from Leicester. As well as making numerous church windows, they got commissions for many historical windows such as these windows depicting figures from Orkney history.