The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du
Pont
5105 Kennett
Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW
OF THE COLLECTION
Creator: Lobejager, William, circa 1837-
Title: Interior
Design Drawings
Dates: ca.1880-1889
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 69x161
Quantity: 48
items (1 box)
Location: 3
L 6
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Some of the designs were signed by William
Lobejager. Not all New York City
directories were searched, but he was found listed as a painter in 1872 and
1888 directories. William was also
listed in the 1870 census as being about 30 years old, born in Germany, married
to Louise, with children, with his occupation as painter. In the 1880 census, his age was given as 43,
and he was married to Anna, age 32.
Sometimes his surname was spelled Lobejaeger. A man named Wilhelm Lobejager died in Grant
City, Staten Island, on Aug. 19, 1897.
(The 1872 directory also listed painter John Lobejager, and the 1888
directory listed painter Francis Lobejager; it is not known if they were
related to William.)
Charles Max Lobejager was listed as a
draftsman in early 20th century New York City directories, living in
New York or in Brooklyn. In the 1900
census, he was listed as an architect’s clerk; he was living on East 82d Street
with his mother Anna, sister Alma (as seamstress), and brother Richard (a
carpenter’s assistant). In the 1910
census, he was listed as an architect, age 34 (born 1876), born in Germany,
living in Queens with his mother Anna (born 1848) and younger brother Richard
J. (a butcher, age 25). When he
registered for the draft during World War I, he listed his employer as the
Board of Education of the City of New York, and his occupation as architectural
draftsman. His address at that time was
Corona, New York, and his nearest relative was his sister Alma Minde, also of
Corona. In the 1930 census, he was
single, living in Queens, and listed his occupation as architect. A man of the same name died in Hudson, N.Y.,
in 1960, but he seems to have been a retired fireman, and it is not known if he
were the same person.
It appears that Charles Max was the son of
William Lobejager, although more definitive family research needs to be done.
SCOPE
AND CONTENT
Consists of 46 wash color paintings and pencil
sketches of interior ceilings and walls.
The designs are highly ornate, depicting fancy borders and bands with
abstract, geometric, and flower patterns surrounding a central field. Many of the rectangular fields have
medallions in the center. A few of the
designs depict landscapes and several are marked by an Oriental influence. Pencil sketches are of border patterns and
most are incomplete. One design (.46)
is for a religious building, probably a church (it includes crosses and
intertwined Alpha and Omega letters); this is marked with the name of I. [or
J.] Schoenberg & Co., 107 E. 8th St.,
ORGANIZATION
The drawings are arranged in accession
number order.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Timothy Trace.
ACCESS
POINTS
People:
Lobejager,
Charles M. (Charles Max), 1876-
Topics:
I
Schoenberg & Co.
Church
buildings – Designs and plans.
Interior
architecture.
Interior
decoration.
Decoration
and ornament -
Decoration and ornament - Oriental
influences.
Interior walls.
Ceilings.
Borders, Ornamental (Decorative
arts)
Medallions (Decorative arts)
Arts and crafts movement.
Drawings
Sketches.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location:
3 L 6
All
accession numbers begin with 69x161.
Folder 1:
.1 Painted
ceiling.
The design includes a central circle
for a chandelier. Oriental influence is demonstrated
through flowering trees, birds in flight, fans, and cobwebs among the
trees. Colors used were turquoise,
mauve, light blue, and beige. Only two-thirds
of the design was completed in this drawing.
.2 Painted
ceiling corner or wall panel, design no. 9, with a variety of borders and
molding.
The design is geometric with swags
of stylized leaves and flowers. Colors
used were brown, yellow, mauve, lavender, light blue, purple, pink, and green.
.3 Painted
ceiling corner with five borders and molding.
The design consists of a Rococo
flower garland, stripes, and a large space decorated with bouquets of flowers
and having a central medallion. Colors
used were light blue, pink, yellow, and green.
.4 Painted
wall decorations.
The left-side of the drawing depicts
an arched door, above which is a decorated arched transom in the French Rococo
style. The middle and right-side of the
drawing depicts arched panels with heavy molding. Between the panels there is a narrow line of
molding. A decorative cornice is
illustrated at the top. There are stylized
carved leaves in the transom and arches.
Colors used for the borders were pink, purple, green, red, gold, and
silver.
.5 Painted
ceiling corner, no. 6, with three borders (one with a band of Rococo swirls,
and another a band with a Greek key motif) and striped molding.
The center field is peach with an
abstract design of dots and squiggles. A
central medallion is included. Colors
used were shades of brown, gold, blue, peach, green. The drawing has "No. 6" and what
might be a name written at the bottom.
.6 Painted
wall.
The bottom of the wall is a solid
color with a decorative border of stylized flowers across the top. The upper part of the wall also includes a
stylized floral border. Colors used were
mauve, lavender, yellow, and light blue.
.7 Scale,
drawn in ink, in one corner of the page.
(Most
of the page is blank)
Folder 2:
.8 Painted
and gilt wall panel (possibly ceiling)
The top of the design shows a highly
decorated cornice with dentil molding, geometric designs, and medallions. Underneath the cornice is a rectangular plane
with a central square flanked by three ornate bands on each side. The square is designed with a lattice pattern
and a central medallion, while the bands are of swirls, stylized flowers, and
geometric shapes. Colors used were
green, turquoise, blue, red, and gold.
.9 Painted
ceiling corner for a library.
Design has small outer border of stripes,
followed by the larger border decorated with a geometric floral design broken
up by panels of nature scenes with flowers and butterflies. The next border is
irregular in shape, with a lattice design, plants, medallions, and books. The center of the ceiling is a field with
pink stripes and a central medallion.
The drawing is labeled Library. Colors used were olive, light blue,
pink, gold, blue, and mauve.
.10 Painted
ceiling corner.
The design consists of a blue border
around a gray field with a black, gold, and red interior floral border. The outer border contains an abstract design. The main body of the ceiling is not a solid
color, but a tone-on-tone feather-like pattern.
Initials
on the reverse: H G P and L I
.11 Painted
ceiling.
Design consists of a thick gold
molding surrounding a narrow maroon border.
The main field is muted olive with bouquets of pink and purple flowers
strewn over it.
.12 Painted
ceiling corner.
Design consists of four borders
around a field with geometric designs, vines of flowers, bamboo shoots, and a
variation of Greek key. The field
contains subtle lattice work with vines from the border to a center medallion. The design shows Oriental influence. Colors used were green, pink, light blue,
beige, and gold.
On
reverse: the number 10.
.13 Painted
ceiling corner.
The corner consists of an irregular border
filled with scrolls of leaves and flowers, medallions, and gold rectangles. The
center field is painted like the sky, with a cupid figure carrying a ribbon and
flowers. Colors used were pink, light blue, and gold.
On reverse: a pencil
sketch of the head of a young boy.
Folder 3:
.14 Painted ceiling corner.
The design contains three borders, each
with a different organic, Aesthetic movement design. Also included are small medallions with birds. The field depicts vines and flowers coming
out of geometric vases, and has a central medallion. Colors used were brown,
mauve, beige, gold, yellow, orange, blue, and green.
[.15 Painted ceiling – in folder 7 – see description there]
.16 Print
of ceiling corner.
A printed design (not painted), possibly a
copy of a Renaissance ceiling. The
design consists of circles and rectangles around a large center circle. Design
elements include putti, musical instruments, and scrolls using classical
motifs. Colors used were green, gold, and beige with splashes of red and blue.
.17 Painted
ceiling.
A rectangular shape with a wide border
made of different elements, including a branch with fruits, an owl, and
butterflies, and two landscape paintings.
The central field has a decorated medallion in the center, with stylized
floral arrangements around the edges. Colors used were gray, pink, lavender,
silver, cream, and green.
"4th front without
landscapes," written at the bottom in pencil.
On
reverse: the number 8.
.18 Painted
ceiling, no. 1.
Design consists of
rectangle with cut corners that has four bands around a central field. Three of
the bands have an abstract pattern and one has stylized vines of flowers. There
are also shells and seaweed on tables in spaces at the corner. The central
field contains vines of leaves and flowers, rose garlands, a gold urn, and a
medallion in the center. Colors used
were pink, light green, lavender, and blue.
The
name W. Lobejager appears under one of the shell drawings (see also .35 and .41).
.19 Painted
square ceiling.
The square is surrounded by an
ornate sculptural border. A quatrefoil
outlined in paint with a gold center is located within the square and
surrounded by another ornate sculptural decoration. There is an oval painting of fruit in each
corner. The center contains a sculptural
medallion encircled by a garland of flowers.
There is gold lattice work around the corners. Colors used were blue, gold, red, pink,
orange, white, and olive green.
Folder 4:
.20 Painted
ceiling.
Consists of a partial design of a
rectangle and a central circle. The
circle is outlined in plaster with Florentine flowers and a sculptural design
around its edge. At each side (only one
side shown) there are sculptural ovals with a design of flowers and sculptures. The corners contain paintings of fruit in
ovals. Colors used were pink, white,
olive green, and blue.
At
top of design: 71 M.
.21 Print
of a landscape.
View of mountains, with a boat in a
lake in the middle ground. There are
trees and rocks at the left and a men walking on a path. Colors used were pink, green, and
lavender.
"Published by Edm. Foerster of
New York," stamped at the bottom.
.22 Door
and wall design.
The left side shows double doors that are
rounded at the top, surmounted by elaborate plasterwork or wood carving. The
center has a narrow vertical band on a panel, while the right has a large
square panel, also surrounded by plasterwork or wood carving. The sections are
separated by pilasters. The panels are highlighted by painted garlands and
flowers. Colors used were red, gold,
green, and blue.
Initials on back: P H
.23 Door
and wall design.
Shows two doors with rounded lintels
flanking a panel on the wall. There is a
heavy cornice at the top of each door and above the wall panel. Crown molding is also depicted. Colors used were creme, tan, and red.
In
pencil on reverse: as is unfinished P- A
.24 Painted
ceiling, no. 12.
Corner view showing wide wood
molding followed by an abstract band of leaves and flowers around the
perimeter. The field contains a greenish
yellow design with gold lattice work over it.
Colors used were green, brown, yellow, and orange.
On
reverse: 5 7 [or 5 F] and D R.
.25 Square
design.
The square is surrounded by marble
and then a band of stylized vines and flowers.
The center field is divided into four squares, each with flowers, birds,
and butterflies. Colors used were brown
marble, blue, gold, mauve, green, and orange.
.26 Pencil
drawing (unfinished).
Drawing is of two rectangular panels
with vines of leaves and flowers.
.27 Painted wall.
Design consists of three panels with
arches (central panel is wider than the two side panels) that have scrolling
leaves around the edges. There are
geometric designs at the cornice. Colors
used were pink, lavender, blue, and green.
on
reverse: rough diagram, in pencil
.28 Pencil
drawing (unfinished).
Drawing is of a panel with an array
of garlands, flowers, urns, and ribbons.
.29 Painted
ceiling.
Corner view of a border with
stylized vines surrounding a central field with geometric shapes that are
outlined in silver. The central field
also has an abstract design with gold highlights. The central medallion is gold with
vines. Colors used were green, burgundy,
gold, and silver.
Folder
5:
.30 Painted
design.
Design shows a band of ribbon then a
band of stripes with sculptural details and paintings of flowers at the
corners. There is a central
medallion. Colors used were pink, blue,
and yellow.
.31 Painted
ceiling.
Corner view, showing wide molding
and then a band of geometric garland and a central field containing abstract splashes
of color. Colors used were green, rust,
pink, gold, and silver.
On
reverse: number 4, and initials P N [or H] G[?]
.32 Pencil
sketch, (unfinished).
Drawing is of a pattern of leaves,
scrolls, and flowers.
On
reverse: outline of a house, showing placement of rooms and windows
.33 Pencil
sketch of a ceiling.
Corner view of a highly ornate,
intricate design, with lots of scrolls and swirls.
At
bottom: initial W
.34 Painted
design.
Design consists of four bands of different
designs, including egg and dart molding and different patterns of scrolls,
surrounding a central field. There is a
square in the corner containing masks, drums, and a baton. The center field has
a central medallion with a large urn on either side. Leaves, masks, and flowers
extending from the urn meet in the middle. There is an outline of a bat with
its wings spread in the background. Colors used were blue, green, pink, gold, and
brown.
On
reverse: number 2
.35 Painted
ceiling, W. Lobejager, no. 8.
Corner view shows a striped band
followed by a paneled band of geometric shapes, leaves, and stylized
flowers. The central field is outlined
with vines of leaves. Colors used were
red, pink, gray, gold, and green.
at the bottom: W. Lobejager, No. 8 [see also .18 and .41]
.36 Painted
ceiling.
Corner view of wide molding followed
by a band of scrolls with a seashell, leaves, and flowers at the corners. The central field is plain with the exception
of a medallion in the center. Colors
used were mauve, cream, pink, green, and lavender.
On
reverse: the number 15; some diagrams, including diagrams of what might be
molding; the numbers 18 and 20, with a symbol between them; the number 20 F,
and the initials C PH-PA [or U]
.37 Print
from Deutsches Maler-Journal, Verlag v.W. Spemann,
Two
designs are shown.
At the top of the print is an ornate
design of a central square with flowers and putti, surrounded by smaller
squares with wreaths of flowers inside of them. The squares are separated by
bands with stylized flowers. The bottom of the print shows a central circle
with clouds and a border of rose garlands. There are cartouches with patterns
in the corners.
at the bottom: "Plafonds Mit
Pausen No. 594-599, 602, 604, 604, Paul Rammerer, entr., Lith, Unst v. M.
Seeger,
.38 Painted
landscape, perhaps a design for a border
The design depicts branches of flowering
trees, with swallows flitting about.
Colors used were gold, silver, blue, and copper.
.39 Painted
ceiling.
Designs consists of a striped band,
then a band with scrolls of leaves and flowers surrounding a field. A band with stripes cuts across the entire
painting dividing the field into two parts.
One side has Oriental flowers, ferns, birds, and Cupid shooting an arrow. The other side has urns, stylized flowers,
vines, and a central medallion that resembles the sun. Colors used were gray, pink, green, and
lavender.
On
reverse: initials H U G
Folder
6:
.40 Painted
ceiling.
Corner view of a plain band followed
by a band with boxes of diamonds and vines.
The perimeter of the field has stylized birds and flowers with a fan in
each corner. The field design is of
flowers, leaves, and twisted garland.
The central medallion design is also of stylized birds and flowers.
written at the bottom: "DM
Special Design,"
on
reverse: the number 7
.41 Painted
band, perhaps a border.
The band has a bamboo pattern with
acanthus leaves and scrolls going across it.
At the right there is a cupid sitting in a bed of roses and vines.
Drawing
is signed W. Lobejager. [see also .18
and .35]
On
reverse: initials U P H.
.42 Pencil
sketch (unfinished).
Pattern of leaves and scrolls.
On
reverse: #6 P
.43 Pencil
sketch (unfinished).
Pattern with ornate lattice work and
stylized flowers at the top and a band of vines with a bar at the bottom. A note "bar must be in center" is
included.
On
reverse: initials G H O.
.44 Pencil
sketch (unfinished).
Corner design of a band of classical
figures telling a narrative. There are
scrolls of leaves at the corner. The
central field has scrolls of vines and flowers.
.45 Painted
ceiling, no. 2.
Corner view showing plain band and a
circle with an urn. That design grows
into a central field with garlands of flowers and leaves. The central medallion is encircled by rose
garland. Colors used were turquoise,
pink, cream, and green.
On
reverse: the number 14; 12 [some initial]; and initials U P G
.46 Painted
wall, with stained glass windows, for a religious building.
Design is flanked by two tall columns. In between these columns are two tiers of
smaller columns. The lower tier of
columns divides the wall into sections, which appear to be covered with a
brocade fabric. The top tier of columns separate a row of five arched windows
topped with elaborate decorations, including a cross. In the upper spandrels are found the initials
IHS and intertwined Alpha and Omega. Colors
used were red, blue, turquoise, gold, and pink.
Signed, "I. [or J.] Schönberg
& Co., 107 E. 8 St,
On
reverse: initials U P G.
.47 “Front
elevation, Design for a city residence”
Façade for an elegant five story
house, signed by Chas. M. Lobejager.
At
bottom: “passed OK, W,” and the initial R
On
reverse: initials A U H
Folder
7:
.15 Painted
ceiling. [now mounted on archival board]
The
design contains wide molding and a circle in each corner, with a central
medallion in a rectangle. Panels between
the circles have borders and the central rectangle has a border. All the designs are abstract and
geometrical. The colors used were
turquoise, gold, pink, blue, and green.
On
reverse: number 5
Folder
8:
.48 portfolio
which contained the items; bears a label for Wm. Boyrer's Music and Paper file,
patented June 21st, 1870, New York City, by Wm Boyrer & Co.
Boards
are covered with decorative paper, cloth spine.
Designed to hold music.