Harry Clarke Stained Glass Ltd.
Other names: Harry Clarke Studios
Active: 1893 - 1973
Function: Stained glass manufacturers
History or description: These stained glass studios were founded in 1893 at 33 North Frederick Street by Harry Clarke's father Joshua Clarke as an addition to his ecclesiastical decoration firm. Harry (Henry Patrick) studied at the Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin (c.1903-11) and then worked as a freelance stained glass artist from 1914-1921. He went into partnership with his father, Joshua, a few months before the latter died (September 1921).
In 1924 Harry expanded the business and moved to Nos 6 and 7 North Frederick Street. He split the firm in April 1930, leaving his brother Walter with the church decoration side, while he kept the stained glass and officially changed the name to The Harry Clarke studios. He died in January 1931, but the studios continued in business until 1973 when they were closed down by his son, the artist David Clarke. Between c.1940-68, Walter Clarke's son Terry worked for the firm.
This entry includes information supplied by Fiana Griffin. There are some further details in the entry for Joshua Clarke & Sons.
Institutional and Business Connections
Successor to Joshua Clarke & Sons
1921
Joshua Clarke who was the founder of the business died in 1921. His son Harry, who had become a partner earlier that year, took over its management
Worked with T. Clarke
1940 (Circa) - 1968
Terry Clarke (a nephew of Harry Clarke and the son of Walter Clarke) worked for the Harry Clarke Studios for most of his career, he also traded under his own name c.1946-51 (and possibly later)
Associated People
Employees included William Dowling
1933
p. 5, Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin, Headmaster's Annual Report of 1932-1933, p. 5, states that Dowling is both a student of the school and on the staff of the 'Harry Clarke Studios'.
Dec. 1933.
Employees included George Walsh
1933
p. 5, Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin, Headmaster's Annual Report of 1932-1933, p. 5, states that Walsh is both a student of the school and on the staff of the 'Harry Clarke Studios'.
Dec. 1933.
Employees included Albert Altendorf
1933
p. 5, Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin, Headmaster's Annual Report of 1932-1933, p. 5, states that Altendorf is both a student of the school and on the staff of the 'Harry Clarke Studios'.
Dec. 1933.
Employer of Richard King
Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin, Headmaster's Annual Report of 1932-1933, p. 5, states that King is both a student of the school and on the staff of the 'Harry Clarke Studios'.
Trade name of Harry (Henry Patrick) Clarke
1921 - 1931
At his father's death, Harry took over the management of the firm. It continued after his own death in 1931
Descriptions of Business or Institution
Listed in Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory with the Post Office Dublin City and County Directory, for the year 1946 Thom's Directory
'Stained Glass Manufacturers'.
Listed in Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory with the Post Office Dublin City and County Directory, for the year 1951 Thom's Directory
'Stained Glass Manufacturers'.
Citing this record
'Harry Clarke Stained Glass Ltd.', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=msib3_1214232949, accessed 24 Jan 2021]
