A complete set of fourteen stations
The Stations of the Cross is a single commission that covers the whole nave. We make the full set of fourteen stations in one palette, one composition language and one technique, numbered I to XIV and inscribed in the language of the parish. Because they share one design, the stations read as a whole rather than as fourteen separate pictures. The set can be made at once or in stages, a few stations at a time, at a pace the parish can afford.
Wooden frames with a cross and an inscription
Each station is set in a wooden frame with a gabled top crowned by a cross, the station number on the front and an inscribed plaque below. We match the colour and finish of the wood to what is already in the church – pews, confessionals, side altars – so that the stations look as if they had always been there. The mosaic sits on a rigid backing, so the whole piece mounts on the wall without cutting into the masonry.
Materials and technique
The stations are laid by hand, tessera by tessera, in Venetian glass, Italian smalti, gold tesserae, marble and natural stone. Backgrounds are usually gold smalti – the same material used in the basilicas of Ravenna – so the stations stay alive in the changing light of a church and remain readable in low light. We work with over 3000 shades of glass and smalti, enough to carry the expression of a face, the folds of a robe and the tones of skin. Our technique is opus tessellatum.
How a commission runs
There are five stages: a consultation – we come to the church, or ask for photographs and wall dimensions; a a design – we agree the composition, colours and dimensions; a visualisation in your interior is available on request, as a paid additional service; the making – hand-laid in the workshop, with photographs and video as work progresses; transport in protective crating; and installation in the church, which we take care of. At every stage the parish sees what is being made and can ask for changes.
How to fund the Stations
The Stations of the Cross lend themselves unusually well to donor funding: individual stations are taken on by families, parish groups or communities. Beside each station we can place a plaque with the donors names or their intention. The second route is payment spread across the stages of the work. Listed churches can also apply for conservation grants – we help prepare the documentation and the cost estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mosaic Stations of the Cross cost?
A single Station of the Cross costs from 4,000 to 6,000 PLN. The price depends on the size of the station, the number of faces and figures in the composition, the materials used and the finish of the frame. We prepare an estimate for the whole set once we have the wall dimensions and a photograph of the interior – free of charge and with no obligation.
Can the stations be ordered in stages?
Yes. Many parishes commission the Stations in batches, a few each year. We prepare the design for the whole set at the start, so stations made later are identical to the first ones.
What size are the stations?
We size them to the wall and to the distance from which they will be seen. Tell us the available space and the mounting height and we will propose proportions and show them in a visualisation.
Are the frames included?
Yes. The wooden frames with cross, station number and inscribed plaque are part of the commission. We match the colour of the wood to the furnishings of the church.
Do you install the stations in the church?
Yes. Transport and installation are ours. The stations are mounted on a rigid backing, without cutting into the structure of the wall.
Can the inscriptions be in another language?
Yes. We make the inscriptions in English, Polish, Latin or any other language the parish prefers.