William Henry Jackson Photochroms - Photography of the American West

WH Jackson, Midway Point, Monterey, California

Lately I am fascinated by the works of American photographer William Henry Jackson (1843-1942), who was renowned for documenting the expansion of the West.  I have found a couple of his images taken on the Pacific coast--this one is Midway Point in Monterey, California.

WH Jackson, Crow in feather headdress, Montana, late 19th century.  See more here.

After fighting in the Civil War, Jackson traveled extensively throughout the American West and photographed the natural wonders he saw there as part of the US Government Surveys. His 1870s images along the Yellowstone River were instrumental in persuading Congress to make Yellowstone the first National Park in 1872.

WH Jackson, The Cleveland Arcade, Library of Congress collection

Jackson traveled all over the United States and around the globe, documenting cities, people and landscapes of all sorts.  He worked for several railroad companies and shot the locomotives that became emblematic of the push west.  Architect Daniel Burnham hired Jackson to document the buildings of Chicago’s 1893 Columbian Exposition before it was razed.  These were published as Jackson’s Famous Pictures of the World’s Fair--you can see them all on the Ball State University website.

WH Jackson, Administration Building, World's Columbian Exposition, c. 1894.

In 1897, after capturing the American landscape for more than 25 years, Jackson sold his extensive archive of negatives to the Detroit Photographic Company and joined the firm. By 1906, the firm changed its name to the Detroit Publishing Company and used Jackson’s negatives to produce countless color postcards. Jackson’s archive of negatives was eventually purchased by Henry Ford and is now divided between the Colorado Historical Society and the Library of Congress. 

WH Jackson, Castle Rock, Santa Barbara, California

The images I have are photochroms, color lithographs made from a black and white photographic negative (the process originated in Switzerland, hence the spelling; it is also sometimes spelled ‘photochrome’).  At least four color plates are used in the process, resulting in a rich, vibrant image. The printed surface has some shine to it, it is not matte like a print in a book.

These photochroms were printed by the Detroit Photographic Company and are generally marked on both the print and mat. 

I'm always looking for more of these!  I especially like California image or other scenes at the beach.


© All text and images are copyright of Jeni Sandberg, except where noted

Southwest Wool Serape Fragment in Orange with Paper Label

Sometimes I come across a piece I love, but don't necessarily know everything about.  Such as this lovely textile:

It is made of a very fine wool, in a deep orange with multicolored stripes.  Presumably Southwestern US or Mexico--but that is a pretty big category of textiles, and one about which I am pretty ignorant.  I love textiles and have a decent background in things like 18th century French silks, but this lovely thing is definitely outside my purview.

Given its narrow width (it measures 21 x 92 inches), I think it is half of a serape, the traditional blanket-like shawl of the Southwest region. The texture is very soft and the weight is very light (similar to Kashmir and French paisley shawls of the 19th century).

This has a paper label basted on one end. Looks old...ish?

So what is this thing?  Early to mid 20th century?  Rio Grande?  If you have any thoughts, please let me know!

© All text and images are copyright of Jeni Sandberg

Tiffany Studios’ Wade Memorial Chapel, Cleveland, Ohio 1901

A few weeks back I visited the Wade Memorial Chapel in Cleveland.  It is one of the relatively few intact interior spaces designed and executed by Tiffany Studios.  And it’s a good one!  It definitely won me over.

The chapel, on the grounds of Lake View Cemetery, was built in 1901 in honor of Jeptha Wade, the Cleveland businessman who founded Western Union Telegraph Company.

The first element of the chapel constructed was the window on the north wall, which depicts The Flight of Souls.  It was displayed by Tiffany in the firm’s exhibit at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900, where it won a gold medal.

The chapel, though it has a certain monumentality, is a small space, with only four rows of pews separated by a center aisle.  The chapel was intended to be used for funeral services--that spot front and center is for a casket (though today the chapel is also used for weddings).

The side walls are covered by huge Favrile glass mosaics designed by Frederick Wilson.  The left wall depicts the prophecy and laws of the Old Testament and the right wall shows the fulfillment of those prophesies through Christianity.   Each measures 32 feet long by 8 feet high.

Detail of the floor mosaic

Detail of the inlaid mosaic on the end of each pew

The architecture (by local firm Hubbell and Benes) is fairly generic and definitely plays second fiddle to the decorative scheme.

Generally, I’m more a fan of earlier Tiffany works from the creative time when the historical precedent was a bit more difficult to nail down.  But the Wade Chapel has a pleasing Beaux-Arts classicism to it, much in the vein of McKim, Mead and White--all white marble, bronze and shimmering mosaic.

Travel tips:  Be sure to call ahead to make sure the chapel is open before visiting--visit the cemetery's website here.  Hours can be limited and varied depending on services and the time of year.  Also, the cemetery is near Case Western Reserve University and Hospital and traffic in the middle of the day was a nightmare in the neighborhood--factor that into your schedule.  The Cleveland Museum of Art is nearby as well. 


© All text and images are copyright of Jeni Sandberg

Road Trip: Tiffany at First Presbyterian Church, Bath New York

Bath was definitely my favorite group of Tiffany on my recent road trip.  I’d visited Bath briefly over the summer, but since I was headed in that direction again, I decided to stop back in and take more pictures.  It’s definitely worth a second look. 

The church itself dates to 1877 and is the only extant church designed by architect Jacob Wrey Mould.  Mould was a great proponent of architectural polychromy (and yes, I am very excited to be able to whip out that term, which has lain dormant since graduate school!), where the structure of the building dictates the colored decoration.  His notable commissions include the original Metropolitan Museum of Art building, Belvedere Castle and other structures in Central Park.  His church in Bath has striped arches around the windows, an element which harkens back to Venetian architecture, one of Mould’s main influences. 

The interior of the church was remodeled by Tiffany Studios (maybe still going by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co. then?) between 1895 and 1897.  There are some pretty amazing elements to note:

The windows throughout are geometric as opposed to figural, which I rather like.  The round window at the east end of the church has an outer border with red turtleback tiles and what looks like crown glass discs in the four quadrants.  I should have brought binoculars to get a good close up view!  

The transept and aisle windows are geometric as well.  The pattern is small scale and reminds me a bit of Tiffany Leaf and Vine (or Acorn) lamps.  

The east wall has unusual panels of what look like red glass tiles and studded, gilt-metal borders.  I wonder if this is the original finish and what the gold-colored material is in between the bumpy parts?  More glass, or metal? 

There is an outstanding pair of leaded glass lanterns at the east end of the church.  Each measures 55 inches high (according to the sexton) and has a double row of red turtlebacks above leaded panels separated by chunky jewels of glass.  

The chancel rail and pulpit are made of carved mahogany with inset mosaic details.  

The narthex of the church also has a Tiffany chandelier made of twisted wire, but it is currently on view at MOBiA’s exhibition, Louis C Tiffany and the Art of Devotion in New York. 

Next Tiffany stop:  Wade Chapel in Cleveland!  

© All text and images are copyright of Jeni Sandberg