There was a big exhibit about the sash windows at Monticello, especially the astragals. They had some on display there and if you looked at the side on of a chopped in half astragal they have there - it was exactly the same as this:
The bit in the bottom left hand corner. This is from a picture Jefferson sent to Alexander.
As I am going to find out more tomorrow on an early morning tour, Monticello was rebuilt in 1790s and Jefferson wrote to Alexander to get his windows ordered - and he wanted the person who had made his windows beforehand involved again - Adam Dennis. No. 13. St Clement's Lange, Lombard Street, London:
"I should chuse those now desired to be made as nearly corresponding as the difference in the size of the glass will admit, and I would prefer their being made by the same man if living because his work was excellently done ... Observe that the sashes alone are wanting, and not glass for them."
Alexander wrote on 5 January 1793 that he was going to order them the following day. Unfortunately Donald and Burton went bust shortly afterwards - so will find out tomorrow if his windows did arrive.
In the letter from Jefferson ordering his windows, he also asked Alexander another favour - to find a sober stone mason from Glasgow to help with the building of Monticello. "I cannot advance a step without a mason."
Alexander replied that it may be hard to find one, sober or otherwise. "I will immediately apply to some of my Friends in Scotland to procure you if possible a good stone mason. There are plenty of them in that Country, but it growing so rich that Fine Houses cannot be so fast built as they are wanted, nothing can induce a good workman therefore to leave his Country but some tempting offer."
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