The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-29
Venetian Palace of the Sixteenth
Century Copied by New York
Architects for Use of Tiffany
& Goa High Mark Of Ar.
tistic Excellence Reached in a
Commercial Building. -

The middle of the sixteenth cen
tury, the senator, Jerome Grimani, COM
missioned the great architect, San
Michele. "to design and construct him
a palace Of noble proportions. - At
the beginning Of the twentieth century,
Messrs. Tiffany & Co.. of New York
commissioned the architects, Messrs.
McKim, Mead & ,, White, to construct ;1s rue
pose should be the noblest Of it's kind.
The modern architects sought their in
SEPARATION in the facade Of the Palazzo
Grimani, the magnificent edifice on the
Grand canal, now serving as the post
office Of Venice, and have constructed
a great home Of art and commerce
adapted to twentieth century require
ments. The building represents an
of the enormous wealth Of jewels and
precious stones housed within.
Growing Murray Hill, the shining
facades of marble occupy one Of the
finest sites in New York. The Fifth av-
enue front is III feet long; that on
Thirty-seventh street 152. The build
ing is noble example Of the second
period of EARLY Venetian architecture;
the same motives composing both fronts.
To the !" t1aneur'' of Fifth avenue, the
building is an interesting typo Of Ital-
The shell Of the entire building is
freproof, being constructed Of marble,
iron and terracotta. The window cas-
ings vestibules, shutters, and much
other metal work thruout the building
are of bronze.
Altho externally the building gives
one the impression of the three stories
represented by the orders, it is internal
" subdivided into seven stories, base
ment and cellar.
The main floor has two entrances on
Fifth avenue and one on Thirty,seeventh
street, protected by glass and bronze
vestibu1es. It is on this floor that the
famous Tiffany diamonds, valued at
about So 900 900, are exhibited. The in
terror is without question the most
beautiful commercial interior in our
country. It is triumphant proof that
an architect work, even in solving a
purely business problem, may be Of high
artistic excellence.
Gray, foggy tones" grid -de-perle"
have been used almost exclusively.
The coffered, classical ceiling is sup
ported by columns Of purplis:h ii gray For
mesa marble, with composite capitals.
| The woodwork is Of close-grained, hard,
Philippine teak, treated with soft, sill
| yer finish and is inlaid with borders of
polished steel and brass. The floor,
also Of teak, is laid in 15-inch widths
and bordered with brass strips and mar
BILE slabs.
The artificial lighting is from silvered
chandeliers. The walls are divided
into panels of polished Terrazzo Of a
speckled texture. The elevators are
the finest piece Of artistic steel work
in this country, and places our metal
workers on level with the great
smiths and forgers Of the German re-
naissance. Directly back Of the main
elevators is a special exhibit room
trimmed in ash and with a coffered cell
ing inlaid with brass.
The main staircase, eight feet broad
is of Fornlosa marble, similar to the col
umns.
The. portion of the second floor facing
Fifth avenue, devoted to the exhibition
of bronzes, is subdivided by columns Of
the Pompeiian Ionic character. The
presidents rooms and the board room
are both executed in mahogany. The
remainder Of the second floor is devoted
to the counting rooms, correspondence
and mail order departments.
d The large part Of the third floor i.
given over to the pottery and glass de
partment. On this floor are also the
registry offices and order departments
On the fourth floor are the library
J heraldic. designing, engraving and pho