The wooden cross with glass stones

Individual Tiffany crosses from Merkenstetten Assisted Living non-profit GmbH

Tiffany crosses are a very special product of Merkenstetten Assisted Living, which is shown by the great demand. The crosses are manufactured individually upon request, as well as sold at various markets and in the in-house shop. The institution regards it as especially important to be able to offer appreciative work, in order to convey the feeling to their male and female clients that they are “needed”.

Each colourful cross is unique

“The Tiffany cross is our own creation”, explains the Manager of this institution, Erich Planitzer, “it was devised in experimentation. Each cross is unique, because all have a different shape, and also the Tiffany colours vary strongly.”

The unfinished Tiffany cross is a curved wooden cross, which is cut and grinded in the wood workshop. As the curved shape does not require precision work, the male and female clients can work in a relatively independent and creative manner. This wooden cross is divided into two halves, in the midst of which a small glass unit (Tifanny) is inserted. The Tiffancy is cut out of the glass plate, matching parts are combined and joined by soldering. There are crosses in three different sizes, which are processed from different kinds of wood, and individually joined with Tiffany colours.

“The uniqueness of these crosses is of great attraction”, according to the opinion of Erich Planitzer. “Also the option to be able to repair it at any time is positive”. For the approx. 15 male and female clients, who are occupied with this task at the Tiffany workshop, it is mainly important that they are taught the exact treatment of these materials, and are able to freely express their creativity.

Offering appreciative work for people

Assisted Living (Lebenshilfe) is the largest special interest group of people with intellectual impairments in Austria. They mainly aim at an active and independent life of people with impairments and their equal participation in society.

Merkenstetten Assisted Living, established in the year 1999, focuses on offering appreciative work to their male and female clients, and to convey the feeling that their work is useful and important. This institution offers workplaces for a total of 47 intellectually and multiple-handicapped persons in the following fields: Tiffany, leather, wood, industry, and garden / outside work.