The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
OVERVIEW
OF THE COLLECTION
Creator:
Title: Drawings
and Tracings
Dates: ca.1915-ca.1928
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 80x268
Quantity: 3
map case drawers
Location: Map
Case 2, Drawers 6-8
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Edmond Ballora was an interior decorator, doing business
at the firm Decoration Artistique, at 516 and
SCOPE
AND CONTENT
The collection consists of 125 drawings and
tracings, primarily in pencil and colored pencil, for room interiors and
furniture. Many of the designs suggest a
French influence. A variety of styles is
featured, including moderne, neo-classical, art deco, Renaissance revival, and
Louis XV. Dining rooms with furnishings,
ceiling lights, details of carving, schemes for Mrs. Nichol's salon, a game
room, a foyer, and plans for window treatment are among the depictions. Several of the renditions are full scale. In
many instances, the client is identified.
ORGANIZATION
The drawings are arranged in accession number
order and are filed in Map Case 2, Drawers 7 and 8, except for the oversize
ones which are noted below; those are in Drawer 6 .
PROVENANCE
Gift of Charles B. Wood.
ACCESS
POINTS
Topics:
Interior
decoration.
Interior architecture.
Furniture - Drawings.
Room layout (Dwellings).
Decoration and ornament.
Pencil drawing.
Interior lighting - Drawings.
Drawings.
Architectural drawings.
Interior designers.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location:
Map Case 2, Drawers 6-8
Note:
All the accession numbers begin with 80x268.
In the descriptions which follow, "labeled" means in another
hand at an unknown date on the outside of the folded drawing. "Inscribed" means by the renderer
on the face of the drawing. Interpretive notations are most often written in
French.
.l "Dining
room." Elevation of fireplace wall. Stylistically moderne with wall divided in
three parts; wall lights and benches at right and left; fireplace at center
with free-hanging hearth and an Art Deco painting or sculpture above; scalloped
border at top of wall. Lines of
radiation are drawn across wall from center of fire box.
Rendered with colored pencil
in blue, yellow, metallic gold, and metallic silver. Scale.
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.2 Design
for a Moderne extension dining table and side chair.
Elevation
and plan of the round, pedestal table decorated with a wheat pattern, dragon
fly, butterfly, and flowers. The
upholstered side chair, with tapered legs decorated with flowers and
wheat.
Rendered
in metallic silver and gold decorations (presumably on light wood). Scale.
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.3 Full
scale construction drawings (side and front elevation and joinery) for chair
#2.
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.4 Front
elevation (with allusion to perspective) of a cabinet and wall light in the Art
Deco "skyscraper" style of Paul Frankl. Motifs include a stylized bird sculpture,
geometric bandings, leafage, and flowers and wheat as in #2.
Rendered
in pink, blue, and grey, and metallic silver.
Dimensioned.
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.5 Wall
elevation of a formal room. Rendered in
colored pencil, it shows drapery treatment, wall paneling, radiators,
chandelier, and two pictures.
Scale. Client: Mrs. H. Aitken,
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.6 Elevation
and perspective rendering in colored pencil of a fireplace wall with a domed ceiling. Neo-classical decoration on fireplace and
large Raphael painting on chimney breast.
Title of Painting: "Vidit
Jacob in somnis scalam stantem syser terram, et cacumen illius tangens
coelum-angelos ascendentes et descendentes: et Durum innixum scaloe."
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.7 Elevation rendering, in pencil and
colored pencil, of wall in same room as #6.
Detailing
includes glass French doors,
flanking windows, semi-circular lunette over doors, and
neoclassical rinceaux between doors
and windows and on ceiling.
OVERSIZED – in Drawer 6
.8a,b Elevation
of dining room East and West walls. In
Colonial revival style, it includes Doric pilasters, base moldings, cornice
molding, three shell-carved open cupboards and one over- door decoration in
wood; plaster walls. Pencil. Dimensioned.
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.9 Elevation
of dining room South wall featuring double doors detailed with long, arched panels
over square panels separated by a gadrooned molding. Cross-section of flanking open
cupboards. Pencil. Dimensioned.
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.l0 Floor
plan of 23'7"xl7'3" dining room.
North wall is shown to be composed of two large bay windows. Pencil.
Scale.
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.11 Detail
of the iron mantelpiece for the library of Mr. P. H. Ruxton at
.12 Construction
drawings (cross sections and molding profiles) for a platform in the grand
salon of Mrs. P. H. Ruxton. Titled: Coupe Estrade Grand Salon. Stamped:
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.13 Elevation
rendering of a carved acorn finial and plan of unknown construction onto which
it is to be affixed. Pencil and colored
pencil. Full scale.
.14 Side
elevation of a large couch for the Kaye library; detail of carved legs and
frame, Régence style. Pencil and colored
pencil. Full scale.
.15 Front
and side elevations for a child's bed at l" scale. Front and side elevation of female doll-like
figure at footboard. Full scale. Client may be Foy. Blue print.
.15b Front
and side elevations of female doll-like figure at headboard for a child's
bed. Client may be Foy. Blue print.
Full scale.
.16 Front
elevation drawing of lacquered chinese cabinet on Louis XV style frame. Detailed rendering of floral and leaf designs
for the carved frame, to be executed by George Chaput, l6 January l9l9, for
Edmond Ballora. Client: Kaye. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale.
.17 Elevation
drawing of a hall ceiling light.
Labeled: Louis XVI for client
Kaye. Neo-classical design sources. Pencil.
Probably full scale.
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.18 Front
elevation drawing for Chinese cabinet on frame.
Detailed rendering of designs for carving the frame in Louis XVI
style. Inscribed and stamped:
.19 Elevation
of carving design for a sofa for grand salon by George Chaput. Pencil. Full scale.
.20 Side
elevation of a bergčre chair in Régence style.
Detailed carving details. Pencil
and colored pencil. Full scale.
.21 Elevation
and plans of carving details for stiles, rails, chair apron, leg, and arm rest
support, and bracket in the Renaissance idiom.
See no. .22. Stamped:
.22 Carving
details for cresting rail and apron of a sofa.
Labeled: Ruxton Renaissance
sofa. Stamped:
.23 Front
elevation of a "Renaissance" armchair and partial elevation of a
sofa. See nos. .2l and .22. Stamped:
.24 Plan
of leg positions for sofa .23.
Stamped:
.25 Details
for carving of sofa and chair cresting rail, finials, and a stretcher. Acanthus leaf and grape motifs. Labeled:
R B King. Pencil.
.26 Detail
for carving motif: leaf and imbrications.
Pencil.
.27 Design
for a bracket, probably in metal. Leaf,
cusping, and trefoil motifs. Pencil and
colored pencil.
.28 Side
and front elevations of a "Louis XIII" armchair; detailed carving
designs. Perspective sketch and plan for
a bench. Labeled: Nichols Louis XIII arm chair. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale.
.29 Plans,
elevations, and cross section for brackets and beams in the rear hall and
"Cobweb" in Casino.
Labeled: Nichols - W. Or [
.30 Front
and side elevations for an armchair.
Linen fold, acorn, oak leaf, and geometric motifs. Details for carving, molding profiles, and
construction. Labeled: Nichols / Dining room armchair. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale.
.31 Front
elevation of a sofa in a "Renaissance" idiom. Carving details include
molding profiles, cusped brackets, roundels, spiral twist stiles and posts,
chamfered legs, acanthus leaf, cresting rail coat-of-arms with lion crest and
the motto "Dum Spiro Spero" in the shield. Finials for the back stiles are noted to be
figurines from Violet le Duc, vol. 8, p. 7l (not illustrated). Inscribed: Madame Nichols /
.32 Front
elevation of a chair in the "Renaissance" idiom. Notation that
it
is to be made of oak with embroidered upholstery and directions for
construction shown on the chair back.
Molding profiles. Plan of seat
frame. Inscribed: Mme Nichols salon. Labeled:
Nichols Renaissance side chair.
Pencil. Full scale.
.33 Composite
front and side elevation of a side chair in "Renaissance" idiom. Carving details include spiral twist legs,
molding profiles, decorative upholstery nails.
Plan of seat frame. Labeled: Nichols Dining room sidechair. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale.
.34 Construction
details for beams and brackets in game room of Casino. Labeled: Nichols W. Or / Game room brackets and beams
/ F.S.D. Pencil. Full scale.
.35 Plan,
elevation, and cross section of iron grilles on windows in the doors of Casino
entrance hall. Labeled: Nichols - W Or / Casino door grille/
F.S.D. Pencil, colored pencil. Full scale.
.36 Elevation
and cross section details for doors and brackets in rear hall of casino. Inscribed:
Doors to Dressing room. Labeled: Nichols- W Or/ Cobweb-Doors. Brackets and
Beams. F.S.D. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale.
.37 Cross
section. Detail drawings for typical
radiator enclosure in Casino game room.
Labeled: Nichols - W Or/ Game
room radiator enclosure. F.S.D. Pencil.
Full scale.
.38 Front
and side elevation for a stone and wood mantelpiece in the entrance hall of the
Nichols's casino. Composed with wooden
cornice and architrave, and stone pilasters in the form of female hermae
flanking the fireplace opening.
Labeled: Nichols - W. O./ Casino
Hall Mantel. F.S.D. Pencil.
Full scale.
.39 Front
and side elevations of Renaissance style armchairs for Mme Nichols’s Grand
Salon at
.40 Construction
details for beams and brackets in entrance hall in casino. Labeled:
Nichols--W. Or / Casino Hall Brackets and Beams. F.S.D.
Pencil. Full scale.
.41 Detail
for stair railing in entrance hall of casino.
Chamfered posts and shields in medieval idiom. Labeled:
Nichols - W. Or / Casino Hall Stairs.
F.S.D. Pencil. Full scale.
.42 Front
and side elevation for a Louis XIII style armchair. Designs for carved details. Labeled:
Nichols Louis XIII Arm Chair.
Pencil and colored pencil. Full
scale.
.43 Construction
details for stair railing in entrance hall of Casino. Labeled:
Nichols - W. Or / Casino Hall Stairs.
F.S.D. Pencil and colored
pencil. Full scale.
.44 Front
elevation of sofa for Mrs. Nichols's grand salon. See no. .39 for carving motifs used. Labeled:
Nichols Renaissance Sofa.
Pencil. Full scale.
.45 Side
elevation of sofa for Mrs. Nichols's grand salon,
.46 Construction
details for counter in Cobweb of Casino.
Labeled: Nichols-W. Or / Cobweb
Bar Counter. F.S.D. Pencil and colored pencil. F.S.D.
.47 Elevation
and construction details for a bookcase in "Renaissance" idiom. Labeled:
R[uxton?] L-Rm bookcase. Pencil
and colored pencil. Full scale.
.48 Partial
elevation with carving details for a bench.
Plan of leg. Sketch of entire
side elevation. Plan of leg and
stretcher construction. Labeled: Chrysler Renaissance bench. Pencil and colored Pencil indicating fabric
and nailing pattern. Dimensioned.
.49 Front
elevation, molding profiles, and construction details for a carved wood
chiffonnier in "Renaissance" style for Mrs. Walter P. Chrysler's
guest room at Great Neck Estates,
.50 Library
furnishings floor plan for Mrs. W. P. Chrysler Estate, Great Neck,
.51 Library
floor plan for Mrs. Charles H. Sabin apartment.
Pencil. Scale.
.52 East
elevation for foyer of Mrs. W. P. Chrysler Estate, Great Neck,
.53 West
elevation for foyer of Mrs. W. P. Chrysler estate, Great Neck,
.54 South
elevation of foyer for Mrs. W. P. Chrysler Estate, Great Neck,
.55 North
elevation of foyer for Mrs. W. P. Chrysler Estate. Great Neck,
.56 Floor
plan of foyer for Mrs. W. P. Chrysler Estate, Great Neck,
.57 Design
for the termination of large beam in the Grand Salon of Mrs. P. H. Ruxton. Inscribed:
.58 Elevation
and cross section of wainscoting for P. H. Ruxton living room. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale construction drawings.
.59 Elevations
of four walls in half-timbered Tudor style.
Drapery treatment rendered at windows; Gothic-arched grills at doors.
.60 Molding
detail for a frame in the Baroque idiom.
Pencil, colored pencil, and simulated gilding. Probably full scale.
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.61 Elevation
of a Renaissance-style bookcase with books.
Pencil and colored pencil. Full
scale.
.62 Elevation
of a Régence style library sofa showing carving details for frame. Colored pencil. Full scale.
.63 Wall
elevation of a domed room. Walls
rendered with Renaissance Revival style motifs [ see .6 and .7 for parts of
same room?]. Pencil and colored pencil.
.64a
North and South elevations of an
unidentified hall [plan is .66]. Wall
paneling in neo-classical idiom [similar to Chrysler job, see .52 and
.55]. Pencil. Scale.
.64b
East and west elevations of hall showing secret door in paneling and a mirrored
door and over-door painting.
Pencil. Scale.
.65 Floor
plan of small passage to bed rooms from foyer.
Elevation indicated to be same as .64a and b. Pencil.
Scale.
.66 Floor
plan of entrance hall [en suite with .65 and 64a and b]. Pencil.
Scale.
.67 Detail
for painted motif on lower part of joist in the Grand Salon of Mrs. P. H.
Ruxton. Motifs: Fleur-de-lis and rosette design. Inscribed:
.68 Design
for painting beam No. 1 in center of ceiling in Grand Salon of Mrs.
Ruxton. Renaissance style motifs with
coat-of-arms of Mrs. Ruxton in center.
Pencil. Full scale.
.69 Design
for painting beam, probably in Grand Salon of Mrs. Ruxton. Motifs:
Strapwork enclosing stylized leafage.
Pencil. Full scale.
.70 Design
for painting intermediary beams on ceiling in grand salon of Mrs. Ruxton. Motifs:
include a 6-pointed star within a crescent within a lozenge-shaped frame
ornamented with acanthus leaves.
Inscribed:
.71 Two
designs for polychrome painted ornament on ends of ceiling beams of Mrs.
Ruxton's Grand Salon at 280 Park Avenue, NYC.
Motifs: (l) stylized rosettes and leafage within strapwork border; (2)
urn with fruit and stylized leafage within strapwork border. Inscribed:
.72 Elevation
of a carved and paneled cabinet in Renaissance style. Molding profiles and construction
details. [Ruxton job?]. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale.
.73 Elevation,
cross sections, molding profiles, and carving details for a bookcase in the Renaissance
style for Mrs. Ruxton,
.74 Designs
for the painted decorations between the beams of the ceiling in Mrs. P. H.
Ruxton's Grand Salon at
.75 Design
for painted decoration of Mrs. P. H. Ruxton's Grand Salon ceiling at
.76 Design
for painted decoration of Mrs. P. H. Ruxton's Grand Salon ceiling at
.77 Design
for painted decoration of Mrs. P. H. Ruxton's
Grand Salon ceiling at
.78 Design
for polychrome decoration at the center of the beams in Mrs. P.H. Ruxtons Grand
Salon ceiling at
.79 Composite
rendering of a Renaissance X-type armchair for Mrs. Chrysler. Half of front elevation, rendered with
carving and construction details, back rest and seat cushions, and fringe. Curved front legs and arm supports. Side elevation of back leg and stile and arm
rendered with carving and construction details.
Labeled: Chrysler Renaissance
X-armchair. Pencil and colored
pencil. Full scale.
.80 Front
elevation rendering of twin beds in Renaissance idiom for Mrs. W. P.
Chrysler. Great Neck Estates. Carving and construction details, molding
profiles. Inscribed: E. S. Ballora, Décorateur /
.81 Partial
front elevation for a dining room table in the Renaissance idiom. Carving motifs detailed. Labeled:
Nichols Dining room Table.
Pencil. Full Scale.
.82 Plan
and elevation of small round table in Renaissance idiom. Carving and construction details
rendered. Labeled: Chrysler - Renaissance Small Table. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale.
.83 Front
and side elevations of an iron chandelier for the music room of Mrs. W. P.
Chrysler. Medieval idiom. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale.
.84 Elevation,
sections, molding profiles, and carving details for a large Gothic style
table. Labeled: Chrysler Large Gothic Table. Pencil, colored pencil. Full scale.
.85 Plan,
molding profile, and carving details for a small table base. Labeled:
Chrysler Base for Small Table.
Pencil and colored pencil. Full
scale.
.86 Plan,
front elevation, carving and turning details, molding profiles, and sections
for a small table in the Renaissance style.
Motifs include: linen fold,
rosettes, leaf and vine. Labeled:
Chrysler Renaissance Small Table. Pencil and colored pencil. Full scale.
.87 Composite
front and side elevation of a Renaissance style X-chair. Carving details for rosettes and leaf forms,
cushion fabric, fringe, molding profiles.
Labeled: Chrysler Renaissance
X-armchair. Pencil and colored
pencil. Full scale.
.88 Composite
front and side elevations, sections, molding profiles, and carving details for
the foot of a Renaissance-style twin bed.
Alternative carving details: (l)
linen fold (2) floral wreath, acanthus,
and ribbons. Inscribed: Mme W. P. Chrysler / Great Neck Estates, L.I.
/
.89 Plan,
sections, and carving details for the top of a small table. Labeled:
Chrysler Top for Small Table.
Pencil and colored pencil. Full
scale.
.90 Front
and side elevations of a wall lighting fixture made of iron in the Gothic style
for the music room of Mrs. W. P. Chrysler.
Inscribed: as above and signed:
Edmond Ballora, Décorateur /
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.91 Side
elevation, molding profiles, and carving details for a wood chiffonnier in
Renaissance style for Mrs. Walter P. Chrysler's guest room at Great Neck
Estates, L.I. Inscribed:
.92 Armchair
in Renaissance style for Mrs. W. P. Chrysler.
Wood covered with velvet, gimp and fringe in gold and red. Front and side elevation, plan, section. Labeled:
Chrysler, l7th Century Armchair.
Pencil and colored pencil. 1/5
full scale.
.93 Small
Renaissance style table for Mrs. W. P. Chrysler. Front and side elevation, carving details,
molding profiles. Legs topped with
female heads. Also acanthus, scrolls,
stylized leaf forms in arches.
Labeled: Chrysler Renaissance
Small Table. Pencil and colored
pencil. Full scale.
.94 Elevation
of the hall decoration in the Nichol's casino.
Doors, windows, stair railing, chamfered posts and braces in the Tudor
idiom, and fireplace flanked by decorations with female heads (see .38 for full
scale detail of stone mantelpiece).
Inscribed:
.95 Floor
plan of an unidentified bedroom showing antique woodwork. Pencil and colored pencil. l/2 inch scale.
.96 Perspective
sketch of an unidentified library card room.
Stamped: Bronte and Hannah /
.97 Front
and side elevations of a forged iron wall lighting fixture in the Gothic idiom
for the music room for the estate of [Mrs.] W. P. Chrysler, Great Neck, Long Island. Shown in its architectural setting, above a
15th century painting of a Madonna and Child. Inscribed:
Edmond Ballora, Décorateur / 681 Fifth Avenue, NYC. / 11 Mai 1923. Pencil and colored pencil.
OVERSIZED
– in drawer 6
.98 Elevation
of a window treatment. Plan (perhaps of
valence construction). Pencil and
colored pencil.
.99 Elevation
of window and wall treatment in Asian style.
Pencil. 3/4 inch scale.
.l00 Front
elevation of a Cromwellian style turned leather chair. Pencil.
,101 Front
elevation of a Cromwellian style turned leather chair. Pencil.
.102 Front
elevation of a Gothic style, carved and upholstered chair. Pencil and colored pencil.
.103 Perspective
rendering of a Louis XVI style bureau plat (flat top desk). Ink and colored pencil.
.104 Perspective
rendering of a Charles II style couch.
Pencil and colored pencil.
.105 Front
and side elevations of a Renaissance style settee. Elaborate fabric designs of urns and
leafage. Pencil and colored pencil. 1 inch scale.
.106 Perspective
rendering of an Italian X-chair (Dante) with cushions and fringe and
tassels. Pencil and colored pencil. Inscribed:
Desk arm-chair.
.107 Upholstered
"Cromwellian" chair for living room.
Columnar legs. Fringed seat and
back upholstery. Pencil. Inscribed:
Salon chair sketch.
.108 Charles
II style upholstered armchair. Spiral
turnings, scroll arms. Fringed seat and
back. Pencil. Inscribed:
Grand salon armchair sketch.
.109 Front
and side elevations of a bench in the Kaye vestibule. Renaissance style carvings; cushions. Stone walls.
Pencil and colored pencil. Scale.
.110 Front
and side elevations of a settee in Renaissance idiom. Cushions, fringe, back cresting rail with
lion rampant above a shield. Pencil and
colored pencil. Scale.
.111 Side
elevation of a sofa in Renaissance idiom with vine and leaf carving, chamfers,
imbrications. Cushions. Stamped:
.112 Four
wall and furniture elevations for the Tudor style bedroom of Mrs. P. H. Ruxton,
.113 Sketch
for the wooden ceiling in the stone gallery of Mrs. Ruxton,
.114 Elevation
of wall with domed ceiling. Designs of
rinceaux and arabesques in neo-classical idiom.
(See .6 and .7 for other views).
Numerical coding of designs, probably to detailed drawings or a floor plan. Pencil and colored pencil.
.115 Plan
of domed ceiling showing designs of rinceaux and arabesques in neo-classical
idiom. (See .114 and .6 and .7 for other
views). Numerical coding of designs,
probably to detailed drawings or a floor plan. Pencil and colored pencil.
.116
Wall elevation for a library in the neo-classical idiom--hollow-corner,
rectilinear, paneling and trophy designs.
Cross section of abutting wall.
(.116 -- .119 are similarly rendered as .8 --.10). Pencil.
3/4 inch scale. Measured drawing.
.117 South
wall elevation for a library in the late l8th century style with rectilinear
panels and curvilinear fireplace surround.
Cross section of abutting walls.
Pencil. 3/4 inch scale. Measured drawing.
.118 Wall
elevation of library showing neo-classical paneling, trophy design, and
bookcases. Pencil. 3/4 inch scale. Measured drawing.
.119 Same
as .118.
.120 Four
wall elevations for Tudor style bedroom of Mrs. P. H. Ruxton's
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.121 Elevation
and plan of bed canopy in Louis XV style for Mrs. P. H. Ruxton,
.122 Front
and side elevations of a stone pendentive in Italian Renaissance style for the
grand salon of Mrs. P. H. Ruxton,
.123 Plan
and partial front and side elevations for an early French Renaissance style
3-light lighting fixture in metal for Mrs. P. H. Ruxton's
OVERSIZED
– in Drawer 6
.124 Side
elevation of an armchair in the Renaissance idiom for Mrs. P. H. Ruxton. Carving details include grape and vine,
chamfers, and imbrications.
Stamped:
.125 Plan for leg location of
chair in no. .124. Stamped: