Stained Glass Stories
Val du Charron
“In 2015, our journey with Val du Charron Estate began, a year that would see some of our most challenging and rewarding stained glass and mosaic work come to life.
Each project we created there, from the Tree Window to the Angels, tested not only skill but endurance, focus, and faith. Looking back, it was a time defined by light, patience, and creative freedom.”
Celeste van der Merwe
Finding My Way Through Glass
My journey with stained glass began years earlier in Ireland. Surrounded by cathedrals and old churches, I found myself drawn to the windows that filled those sacred spaces with colour and light. Their beauty was overwhelming, but what moved me most was the craftsmanship behind them.
In time, I received my training there and had the honour of working on the kind of windows I once only admired from afar. That experience stayed with me and continues to guide my work to this day.
One of our first commercial commissions after returning to South Africa was for Val du Charron. What followed were four artworks that became an important part of both the estate’s story and my own.
The Tree Window
At the time, Francois was busy with a restoration project in Kimberley, which meant that the responsibility for this commission fell to me. The Tree Window was my first and largest project for Val du Charron. I transformed an old double-door frame into a statement window of 998 glass pieces, joined with 23 lengths of lead came.
It demanded precision and patience. One of the four panels alone held 440 pieces, each cut, shaped, and fitted by hand. I approached it methodically, working in small sections so that the complexity remained manageable.
What began as a daunting puzzle soon became a rhythm, one cut, one solder, one step closer to the whole. The process taught me that endurance in stained glass, like in life, is built piece by piece.
When the window was finally completed, it stood tall as a living sculpture of light and perseverance. Later, Val du Charron released a wine label inspired by it, the Aphaea series, carrying the same sense of rooted beauty.
The Eye Windows
Next came the Eye Windows, a playful, tongue-in-cheek concept for the honeymoon suites overlooking the pool. Each of the two windows features an abstract eye motif, rich with African-inspired colours and patterns.
They were designed to invite conversation and humour, reflecting the joyful, romantic energy of the space. Creating them was a reminder that stained glass doesn’t always have to whisper; sometimes it can smile.
The Angels of Val Du Charron
Later that same year, Val du Charron commissioned two angel sculptures. The first, the African Angel, began as a cement figure with peeling mirror tiles. Before I could start mosaicing, I had to scrape off every old tile, repair the cracks, and prepare the surface for new life.
I had never mosaiced a three-dimensional figure before, so I had to teach myself how to apply glass to curves, wings, and folds. It was physically demanding work, especially the legs and shoes, which required long hours on the floor, but determination kept me going.
When completed, the African Angel had a new identity: vibrant glass tiles, opaque textures, and a wig made from coconut husk and wire frame. She seemed to carry a quiet strength, fitting for her setting among the estate’s gardens.
Soon after, I created the Dutch Angel, a counterpart to her African sister. She, too, was restored, reimagined, and given her own character. Positioned along the little road by the pizzeria, she watched over guests with quiet grace.
For Visitors to Val du Charron
If you visit Val du Charron Wine & Leisure Estate in Wellington, take a moment to explore beyond the vineyards and views. Step into Pizza Vista to see the Tree Window in its full light, or look for the Eye Windows in the Coach House. As you wander the estate, you may even find the two angels, each quietly watching over the grounds.
They are more than artworks, they are stories set in glass, fragments of time held together by patience and determination.
A Place That Stays With You
The projects at Val du Charron remain some of the most meaningful of my career. They taught me the value of persistence, precision, and trust in the creative process. Every cut, every solder line, every mosaic tile carries a story.
I’m deeply grateful to Stuart and Catherine for their trust and for allowing me the freedom to create from the heart. That kind of collaboration is rare, and it makes the work even more special.
Looking Ahead
We’ve been invited to create another mosaic for Val du Charron’s ongoing renovations, a project still under wraps, but one we’re excited about. Each new piece feels like returning home to a place where art and endurance meet again.