I like the second option, with it going up, but I think it could go either way. Go with what you like.

I also think that it could go either way. Personally I like it the way it is in the top picture.

To me it’s a flower so should open up (like the first picture)

Several of my family liked the “open flower” way but a friend of mine said it looked like a bat flexing his wings and now that’s all I see! And the other one might have a heart in the middle?

Haha! I’m leaning toward the mustache—better than a bug or bat watching me while I eat!

Are the frames equal on all sides? If yes, the choice is yours. If there is one side of the frame heavier/wider than the others, I would say that is the bottom.

I like the first option. It seems like the subject is centered in that image. Whereas in the second option it looks like the subject is too close to the top frame. But I’m weird about things being equal or centered.

The first is the historically correct orientation.

First picture. The second one makes it look like a hat.

Sophie I wanted the historically correct orientation. Do you have a source? I tried to research but couldn’t find anything like this design. Thank you!

The second orientation looks unbalanced. First one looks right.

I say the one on the right because, in that orientation, the bottom rail of the sash is wider/taller, like this:

I think the 2nd option. I see two love birds kissing (or is it one choir singer with mouth open wide?)

It’s the 2/3 1/3 ratio weighted to the bottom, which is the classic design principle used in art today. The 1/3 2/3 is top heavy and awkward. And wrong.

I know nothing but I picked the first one right away.

bbkieffer, I can see that opera singer in the second one. ;-)

So either we have a bug with antennas/evil bat or an open mouthed opera singer watching us while we eat! I am going with the historically correct version and eating with my back to the windows! Thank you all—this was fun!

I'll just leave this here as this was my first thought...............

Charming.....

Phylogeny recapitulates ontology. Heterochrony anyway.

Flowers are reproductive organs. And were often used euphemistically so as to be more genteel. Georgia O’Keeffe ‘s paintings aren’t so much about pistils and stamens for sure.

at this point i'd just resell them. every guest will be thinking all these things whether they say them out loud or not. (and yeah, my mind went to millworkman's photo and georgia o'keefe first thing too.)

besides, they are too small for your existing windows.

The first pic would be the accurate orientation by the looks of the pattern itself and the framing of the glass.
Are you planning on setting them into the windows in the pics? The stained glass looks awfully small to fill those windows, like you will have to frame them in a lot.

It does seem you could use more stained glass and less framing

Hanging those from eye hooks with a chain can work to use them as artwork. But if the intent is to use those as actual windows, that will need new custom glass created and installed correctly as a sort of interior storm window.

The first is the correct orientation. As Sophie said, it's a flower.

Thank you for all the great input! This is part of an extensive renovation and that wall didn’t have windows initially. We gave the stained glass to our builder and said we wanted windows cut on either side of the fireplace specially for them. They do seem large...but I’m trusting he knows what he’s doing.

Demon or female anatomy. Install as shown.

Yin, yang, you mah thang

Consider NOT installing the window as a window; instead you could either have the glass reframed or just refinish the current frame and then hang it inside your existing window as a stained glass window hanging.

http://www.sabatropics.com/stained-glass-window-hangings/large-stained-glass-window-hangings-stained-glass-window-stained-glass-window-hangings-minimalist-design-pictures/

http://bcell2016.org/stained-glass-window-hangings/perfect-stained-glass-window-hangings-h4642627-stain-glass-window-hanging-hanging-stained-glass-window-angel-stained-glass-window-hangings/

http://imged.me/img/

Checking for stained glass window hangings on line might give you some insight as you decide which side you should hang as the top.

The first.

Thank you suezbell—very helpful link. We have decided to hang the stained glass within the window. A little disheartening since this was not the original intent but a first world problem after all. We would like to have the windows trimmed out with seeded glass but at this point in our reno are looking for cost effective options!Thank you again:)