Jacobine Melis is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Archaeology.

More information about Jacobine Melis

Research

Churches, public buildings, as well as ordinary residences contained stained glass in the period from 1400 to 1700. In the art-historical field, research has been conducted on stained glass still present in situ or in private and museum collections, but sheet glass found archaeologically is not considered. While conclusions can be drawn from this about the working methods of the glazier. In addition, art historical research focuses primarily on the images on the window glass, but not on the material, and the production traces present on the glass. Therefore, particularly little is known about the craft of glazier. 

The research into stained glass that I am conducting involves a material study of sheet glass from several Dutch glass depositories, archival research into historical sources that write about the craft of glazier, comparative archaeological research into already known glazier's waste pits, and anthropological research into still existing glazier's workshops. Through this multidisciplinary approach I can reconstruct the chaîne opératoire of window glass and provide insight into the modus operandi of the glazier; from buying the raw materials to depositing them in a glazier's pit.

In addition, I strive to promote archaeological research on sheet glass. Where sheet glass is encountered within an excavation, it is rarely (and then very summarily) if ever treated within a report. The interest within archaeology therefore concerns filling a knowledge gap. With my research I aim to demonstrate the potential of sheet glass research. In addition I want to give archaeologists concrete tools from which they can better determine sheet glass, which can lead to a better reconstruction of find locations and especially the structures that are associated with these find locations.

More information on Jacobine Melis' website Gebrand op het Verleden.

Curriculum vitae

KNA Archaeologist / KNA prospector/ KNA material specialist at SOB Research (2018 - current)
Sheet glass specialist (2016 - current)
Journalist at Twentsche Courant Tubantia (2016 - 2018)
Research journalist at Sikkom (2015)

Publications