The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
OVERVIEW
OF THE COLLECTION
Title: Interior
Design Drawings
Dates: ca.1880-1889
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 69x161
Quantity: 47
items (1 box)
Location: 3
J 2, portfolio covers in Map case 3, drawer 5
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 drawing is identified with I. Schoenberg
& Co. located at
ORGANIZATION
The drawings are arranged in accession number
order.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Timothy Trace.
ACCESS
POINTS
Topics:
I. Schoenberg &
Co.
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 J 2
69x161
.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 half of the design
was completed in this drawing.
.2 Painted
ceiling corner or wall panel, 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 consist 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 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)
.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.
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.
.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.
.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
the back of the drawing there is a pencil sketch of the head of a young boy.
.14 Painted ceiling corner.
The
design contains three borders, each with a different organic 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.
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.
.16 Painted
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 a stylized floral arrangements around the edges. Colors used
were gray, pink, lavender, silver, cream, and green.
"4th
front without landscapes," written on the bottom in pencil.
.18 Painted
ceiling.
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 .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.
.20 Painted
ceiling.
Consists
of half 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.
.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.
.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.
.24 Painted
ceiling.
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.
.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.
.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.
.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.
.32 Pencil
sketch, (unfinished).
Drawing
is of a pattern of leaves, scrolls, and flowers.
.33 Pencil
sketch of a ceiling.
Corner
view of a highly ornate, intricate design, with lots of scrolls and swirls.
.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.
.35 Painted
ceiling.
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.
"W.
Lobejager, No. 8," at the bottom.
.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.
.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.
"Plafonds
Mit Pausen No. 594-599, 602, 604, 604, Paul Rammerer, entro. 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 plain 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.
.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.
"DM
Special Design," written at the bottom.
.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.
.42 Pencil
sketch (unfinished).
Pattern
of leaves and scrolls.
.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.
.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.
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.
.46 Painted
wall.
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. Colors used were red, blue, turquoise, gold,
and pink.
Signed,
"
.47 “Front
elevation, Design for a city residence”
Façade
for an elegant five story house, signed by Chas. M. Lobejager.