Journey of the Wise Men panel

Glencairn’s family Chapel has a floor lamp with a handcrafted, six-paneled lampshade depicting scenes from the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Each one of the illustrations is accompanied by a biblical quotation. In the panel pictured here, the Wise Men are depicted at night with their camels, following the Star of Bethlehem: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him’” (Matthew 2:1–2).

Raymond Pitcairn commissioned artist Francis Eugene Snyder to design and create this lampshade in the 1930s or 1940s when Glencairn was being decorated. It is made from plexiglass panels, which Synder painted with oils. By using a variety of media, he was able to achieve the appearance and texture of stained glass when the light is turned on.

The other five panels on this lamp depicting the Christmas story are: the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Presentation at the Temple, and the Flight into Egypt.