Calendar
I saw the building facade from the across the street, but I wanted to take a shot of it's entrance. When I got closer I realized it had the months of the year on it and I thought, How interesting is that! I thought the carvings on it were of the zodiac. Here are the facts:
The 31-story Salmon Tower Building was designed by Albert J. Wilcox and completed in 1928. The builder was Walter J. Salmon, Sr., an important NYC real estate developer who also built 500 Fifth Avenue next door.
From the street, this relatively unremarkable building has one outstanding feature, a most remarkable two-story, arched limestone entrance with six carvings on either side of the arch, representing the twelve signs of the zodiac. Carved under each sign is the appropriate month.
The Romanesque archway has a carved zigzag pattern - very eleventh century! - and whimsical animals are carved at the top of the straight sections.
As a bonus, there are fifteen carved figures across the top of the entrance - nine classical male figures, four classical female figures, and two dogs. Many of the figures seem to represent occupations. I can see a man holding a t-square in one hand and a dividers in the other. Next to him is another man carrying a curved-neck flash, perhaps representing chemistry. Next is a kneeling female typing on what surely is the latest thing in 1928 typewriters, apparently taking dictation from the fellow standing next to her. Further on, there's a guy with a trowel, maybe a bricklayer? Right of center is a chap holding what looks like a rolled-up blueprint standing next to another guy holding a large gear, with a young woman kneeling between them, writing notes on a scroll. An elegant lady all the way on the right is handing two large, heavy books to the gentleman next to her. Mind you, all these characters are clothed in classical Roman garb.
Calendar
I saw the building facade from the across the street, but I wanted to take a shot of it's entrance. When I got closer I realized it had the months of the year on it and I thought, How interesting is that! I thought the carvings on it were of the zodiac. Here are the facts:
The 31-story Salmon Tower Building was designed by Albert J. Wilcox and completed in 1928. The builder was Walter J. Salmon, Sr., an important NYC real estate developer who also built 500 Fifth Avenue next door.
From the street, this relatively unremarkable building has one outstanding feature, a most remarkable two-story, arched limestone entrance with six carvings on either side of the arch, representing the twelve signs of the zodiac. Carved under each sign is the appropriate month.
The Romanesque archway has a carved zigzag pattern - very eleventh century! - and whimsical animals are carved at the top of the straight sections.
As a bonus, there are fifteen carved figures across the top of the entrance - nine classical male figures, four classical female figures, and two dogs. Many of the figures seem to represent occupations. I can see a man holding a t-square in one hand and a dividers in the other. Next to him is another man carrying a curved-neck flash, perhaps representing chemistry. Next is a kneeling female typing on what surely is the latest thing in 1928 typewriters, apparently taking dictation from the fellow standing next to her. Further on, there's a guy with a trowel, maybe a bricklayer? Right of center is a chap holding what looks like a rolled-up blueprint standing next to another guy holding a large gear, with a young woman kneeling between them, writing notes on a scroll. An elegant lady all the way on the right is handing two large, heavy books to the gentleman next to her. Mind you, all these characters are clothed in classical Roman garb.