Evening star., 1926-03-04
THE NORTH WINDOW

has won special distinction by
his work In wrought iron. Previ-
ously 1t has been awarded to the
leader Of the Philadelphia Orchestra,
Mr.. Stokowski, and to the founder
Of the Graphic Sketch Club In Phila-
delphia, Samuel Fleisher.
This prize, established by Edward
Box. is given only to those who have
conspicuously served their commu-
nity-in other words, who have done q
notable service calculated to ad-
vance the best and largest interests
OF Philadelphia" In the Sketch
Club that Mr.. Fleisher founded have
been made better citizens, largely
among the foreign born, and through
the medium of art as common her.
1tage. It has been a center or pro-
duction; II has cultivated high ideals;
1t has increased norma, happiness.
The home of the Graphic Sketch
Club is in a poor part of the city.
Old buildings have been utilized;
there has been no great expenditure
of money, but its beneficent influence
has been widespread.
Why the Philadelphia prize should
have been given to Mr.. Stokowski
need not be explained. Every one
knows what the Philadelphia Or
chestra is today and what 1t means
to the people Of Philadelphia. Mr..
Stokowski Is an idealist. as are all
real artists, and he has tnculcated
his ideals among the. people OF a
great city.
But that an ironworker should be
numbered with such will doubtless by
some be found surprising. Yet Sam
uel Yellin likewise has served the
community in a large and unusual
way. He Is q master craftsman. He
holds art in high reverence. He has
produced works Of extraordinary
beauty-works which compare with
the splendid creations OF European
craftsmen Of centuries ago. But more
than this. he has gathered around him
group Of young men as assistants
in his workshop and has taught them
not only to work In metal, to make
fine things, but to respect their art,
to find Joy in creation. He is now
contemplating the establishment OF
what he calls another school," q plan
which he has been dreaming OF for
several years, a school in which metal
work will be taught and carried on as
an art. not merely as business. In
this school, he says-tO quote his own
words. II wish to teach our boys to
learn to love and make beautiful
things in metal and in my way" And
how will he use his priZe-to buy him
self more comforts, to lay by against
a rainy day? No. it is to be invested.
and the interest will "enable q worthy
boy each year to go abroad and study
the beautiful old metal work in nu-
seums" After all, II Is not 80 strange
that the Philadelphia prize for service
to the community should have gone to
Samuel Yellin.
1t was Samuel Yellin who made the
memorial gates for the Harkness Tow
er at Yale-gates which show in their
design modern motives, rendered, how
ever, with that grace and finish. that
splendid sense Of balance and fitness
in design which set apart the products
OF the great ironworker. For many
Of the leading public buildings he has
been employed to make screens and
gates, lanterns. locks and other neces.
sites of building, so that in the hur-
rying business life these things stand
out as examples Of American crafts
manship as things of beauty.
And this is well. Work in any me-
dunn should to some extent evidence
the qualities Of the medium. A
wrought-iron grill obviously should
but, on the other hand. so exquisite
are some of the patterns in wrought
iron that they bring to mind the beau
tiful designs found in examples of
Renaissance lace; likewise are they
suggestive Of medieval carvings in
stone. Thus through all mediums
runs a similar thread. declaring the
kinship Of all artistic expression.
X 4 r.
Quite recently an ironworker from
abroad by the name Of Brandt has
been exhibiting in this country. He,
too, is a great craftsman. and his de.
signs In wrought or forged iron have
been adapted by one Of our great silk
| manufacturers for the patterns of new
| woven and printed fabrics: In fact, the
salesrooms of Cheney Brothers. New
York, have been completely redeco.
| rated and reconstructed with Brandt's
| ironwork as their chief feature. Ex-
amples Of Brandt's metal work adapt
| ed to furniture and other articles of
utility are to be seen at the present
| time in the exhibition of modern
decorative art brought over from Paris
and now on view In the Metropolitan
Museum Of Art. New York.
1t is interesting to know that we
have In this country craftsmen equal.
ly skillful and quite as original and
well patroniZed. This is called q com.
mercial age. yet there are many en-.
gagged in purely commercial enter
prises who have felt 1t we'll worth
while to secure, at the higher price
which handwork commands. the works
Of Samuel Yellin and Edgar Brandt
rather than that produced through
mechanical process. so-called cast iron
One of the men who have worked
with Samuel Yellin, pupil, earlier
| still, of the Pennsylvania School OF
| Industrial Art, is now In charge
| of the iron work for the great Sweden.
borgian Church at Bryn Athyn, Pa
| Others are finding similar commits
| sions. Some day it will be necessary
| to have such work done for our ca
| thedral here on Mount st. Alban, and
! when that time arrives 1t Is comfort
! ing to know that there are craftsmen
in this country to whom it can be
| intrusted.
It is amazing how much fine crafts
ynanship has come in demand in these
later years. The building of the
Academy of Sciences In this city is q
splendid example Of fine craftsman
ship In detailed ornamental work com
DlIlcQ With GICIuLeCLuIdk ueSlSl, sup
plementing, beautifying, ornamenting
in the true sense of the word, the
structure to which it belongs The
main doorway of the Czechoslovakian
Church in New York. designed by
John v. Van Pelt, is another example
a case where sculptor and architect
and architectural designer have work
ed together in perfect unison and com
plete sympathetic harmony to pro
duce a splendid work Of art. Serbian
elements of design have been used, but
| they have been used In a way which
Is suitable and which gives them new
Significance.
Whatever one wants in this coun
try now in the way of fine workman.
ship can be supplied If one knows
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