"Stained Glass Artist's Leaded Glass Came Knife: The knife is a Don Carlos Model made in Solingen, Germany by Friedrick Herder".
Written by Patrick J. Cullen.
This isn't just any lead came knife, this is a national treasure. This knife cut the came used in each of the priceless stained glass windows installed by order of then President George H. W. Bush at the chapel he created at Camp David, Md. These windows created and constructed in Cattaraugus, New York by the world renowned stained were glass artist Dr. studio Rudolph R. Sandon. I first met the Dr. Sandon in 1971 and witnessed his artistic creations at his studio numerous times over the years until his passing in 1991. Dr. Sandon demonstrated this knife to me. This knife was used in all of his most recent works and was used in the three very special unique windows I witnessed being constructed created in his studio.
The windows at Camp David's newly constructed chapel were designed to resemble three trees, one for each side of the chapel and one in the front of the chapel. Each tree has about an 18" trunk, is about 12' in height and has approximately a 12' wide crown. Dr. Sandon's degree in theology was a priceless asset when he placed an image or logo or sign of each of the world's religions in the branches of the trees as if they wer blossoms and fruits. The design of these stained glass windows was very well received. The most significant and cherished feature of the overall design was that no matter what dignitary would bisit the chapel from any country in the world, their religion would be represented in the branches of one of the trees. The symbolism of each member of the human race being interconnected and dependent upon each other is visibly and colorfully radiant in each beautiful window. The aura of the thick stone walls and the glow of the stunning stained glass must be breathtaking, especially in that location. Dr. Sandon asked that I be on the installation team but this was not approved. Darn!
Who was Dr. Sandon? Dr. Rudolph R. Sandon was hustled out of Italy at the end of WWII by Wild Bill Donovan, founder of the OSS and CIA. Sandon was not only a seventh generation stained glass artist who had created and repaired windows in dozens of churches throughout Europe as well as the Vatican, but he was also one of Benito Mussolini's bodyguards, thus the urgency of his departure from Italy was obvious. I will never forget the photo Rudy showed me ofhim with Mussolini in front of a massive fireplace. Rudy's commitment to freedom and humanity was recognized before he left Italy when he was decorated by Gen. Charles De Gaulle for providing misinformation to the Germans, thereby saving a French valley and villages from destruction. Sandon chose to settle in Painesville, Ohio and early on discovered the skiing in Ellicottville to his liking. Donovan, who was from Buffalo, and Sadon became life-long friends. Sandon and his second wife Helen, constructed, first a cottage, then a permanent home and studio in a secluded area just south of Cattaraugus Village. Dr. Sandon estimated that he had done work for nearly 500 churches in the USA in his career. The last window Dr. Sandon completed was just after the Camp David job, for the Bank of Cattaraugus. As his workmen installed the three windows for the bank, Rudy visited me there to view the windows in place and to say goodbye. He told me I would never see him again as he was dying of pancreatic cancer. He was gone from this life 10 days later.
Dr. Sandon wasn't just a witness to history. He was involved in it. He was a Boy Scout who's Troop was nationalized into a military unit. He was in the Italian Alpine Ski Troops. Dr. Sandon won a gold medal in the 1936 Olumpics with the Italain Military Patrol in team biathlon competition. He lost a lung in the battle of Stalingrad. He conspired against the Germans. When in the US he was a lifelong mbember of the "company" serving in the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba, and elsewhere.
I'm sorry that I can't related more stories to you, but then Rudy would want me to kill you.
Written by Patrick J. Cullen, Director of the American Museum of Cutlery.