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Drawing, Elevation and Plan View for a Spiral Staircase
This is a Drawing. It was model maker: Adolph Bordeaux. It is dated January 8, 1883. Its medium is graphite, pen and black ink on cream laid paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.
Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw’s generous gift of their collection of architectural models for staircases will be the subject of a forthcoming Cooper-Hewitt exhibition.
This is one of 10 meticulous staircase schematic drawings from the Thaw collection, presented as a gift to accompany the staircase models. The drawings are by Adolph Bordeaux, a journeyman of the compagnonnage movement doing his master tour in the 1880s.
Bordeaux’s rigorous training is evidenced by the accuracy and precision of these scale drawings. Initially, the journeyman candidate worked for five to seven years perfecting all aspects of the craft—in this case, the joinery associated with constructing spiral staircases—from the planning and drafting to the construction of the models. He would then continue his education with travel to various cities in France to study specific details from master craftsmen. This cycle of travel from city to city was known as Le Tour de France. In each city, the candidate would desig
This object was
donated by
Eugene V. Thaw and Clare E. Thaw.
It is credited Gift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw.
- Staircase Model (France)
- pear (wood), walnut.
- Gift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw.
- 2007-45-21
- Drawing, Perspective and Plan View of a Spiral Staircase that Turns to the Left
- graphite, pen and black ink, brush and grey watercolor on cream laid paper.
- Gift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw.
- 2007-53-1
- Drawing, Plan Development and Elevation for a Spiral Staircase that Turns to...
- graphite, brush and watercolor, pen and black ink on cream wove paper.
- Gift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw.
- 2007-53-4
Its dimensions are
Sheet: 43 x 43.2 cm (16 15/16 x 17 in.)
It is signed
Signed in black ink, lower right: ABordeaux
It is inscribed
Inscribed in black ink, lower right: 8 Janvier 83 / Marcilly
Cite this object as
Drawing, Elevation and Plan View for a Spiral Staircase; Model maker: Adolph Bordeaux (French, active 1880–1890); France; graphite, pen and black ink on cream laid paper; Sheet: 43 x 43.2 cm (16 15/16 x 17 in.); Gift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw; 2007-53-7
