Thursday, May 22, 2014

British Empire Building Art (east) - Rockefeller Center, NY, NY

British Empire Building

GPS: N40° 45.503; W073° 58.640

Short Description: 

Three works of art adorn the east façade of the British Empire Building at  620 Fifth Avenue in Rockefeller Center.

Long Description: 


Industries of the British Empire
by
Carl Paul Jennewein




Above the entrance to the British Empire Building is this bronze panel, installed in 1933,  that has nine gilded figures each representing an industry important to the British Empire. The figures are organized into a 3 x 3 grid. 

SALT - WHEAT -WOOL
COAL - FISH - COTTON
TOBACCO - MARITIME - SUGAR  

British Coat of Arms
by
Carl Paul Jennewein


Above the gilded panel depicting British Empire industries is a polychrome and gilded limestone carving of the British coat of arms. The sculpture was designed by Carl Paul Jennewein and carved at the Piccirilli Studio. 

Motifs from the Coat of Arms 
from the British Isles
by 
Rene Paul Chambellan


Four sculptures by Rene Paul Chambellan are located at the roof line of British Empire Building. They  represent the four countries that comprise the British Isles. Wales is the Dragon (upper left), Scotland is the Unicorn (upper right),  England is the Lion (lower left), and Northern Ireland is the Stan and Harp (lower right).

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