In the Womb of the Rose - Sponsorship in the Middle Ages

In later periods a donor would appear as a portrait and named but in the early middle ages the common practice was to use insignia from a coat of arms as a pattern element. Royal Patronage was common - even in the Middle Ages stained glass making was a costly business. Above, the supporting pattern panels of the North Rose of Chartres, features the Fleur de Lys of the Royal House of France and the heraldic castle symbol of Eleanor of Aquataine respectively.

The Virtual Rose window has panels that can be utilized in a variety of ways for sponsors - see Sponsors for wombrose for more details.

Donors of less individual standing might figure in the glass represented by their trade. This would signify a panel given by a guild of merchants or tradesmen. The Good Samaritan window on the right shows the Shoe makers who donated it at work in the bottom panels.
	On the left the Watercarriers are represented in the bottom panels
On the right is a detail from the window donated by the cartwrights showing a representative at work.