Tag Archives: Industrial Design

Edgard Sforzina (1881 – 1941)

Union Terminal, Cincinnati

Union Terminal, Cincinnati (Photo via DrivingForDeco)

This article is an exclusive interview with Denise E. Allen, granddaughter of Edgard Sforzina an early French designer, decorator, and architect of L’ Art Moderne ~ Art Deco.

Denise: Anthony and Chris, thank you for the opportunity to discuss my grandfather, Edgard Désiré Sforzina.

How did this project come about?

To preserve our grandfather’s legacy, my sisters and I agreed to establish a collection of his works that we could donate to a museum, design school, or an organization interested in its preservation. We would like this collection to be accessible to all interested parties for the purposes of education, research, and scholarship, particularly for people interested in Art Deco.

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I would like to express my unbounded thanks to my wonderful, albeit far-flung, family in America, France, Germany, and the Netherlands; my friends, and last but not least, the Art Deco Society of Washington D.C. (ADSW) for all their support in curating the collection and raising awareness of Edgard Sforzina and his contributions to Art Deco.

But back to my grandfather.

Edgard Sforzina He came to America in the Fall of 1922 at the request of his company, L. Alavoine & Co. to work in their New York City office located at 712 5th Avenue. His success continued during the years between the Great Wars and on a number of occasions he was noted in magazines and newspapers for his interior designs and design innovations. Tragically, he died from gastro-intestinal ulcers in 1941 at the age of 59, and leaving behind a legacy of his design drawings and furnishings.

Would you tell us more about his background?

Edgard SforzinaSforzina was born and educated in France as a “dessinateur” (a designer or decorator). He arrived in the Port of New York on November 17, 1922; his first trip to America. Forty – two years old and fresh off the S.S. Rochambeau.                                    …                                                                              For the initial visit, he stayed long enough to confirm that he would take the new position and establish a residence for his family. Once accomplished, he returned to Paris to pack up his household. He returned in February 1923 with his young wife and infant daughter. In making this permanent move to live in America, Sforzina became one of the early French-American designers of L’ Art Moderne, arriving two years before the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, France.

A story my mother enjoyed sharing was that Mémé (grandmother) did not want to leave her family and friends in France. She made it clear to Pépé (grandfather), that he had to bring her younger sister, Tautine (Teresa), and their cat, Mitzi to America, and oh by-the-way, she had to have a mink coat.  All of this he did, except for the mink coat. He tricked her by buying rabbit instead,

When they immigrated to America, he brought his illustrated copy of “La Tour du Monde en 80 Jours”, (Around the World in 80 Days). He won the book as a prize when he was 11 years old, possibly the first prize he ever won. We have no idea what he accomplished to win the book, but on the inside cover page there is a handwritten inscription commemorating the event. Passed down from my Mémé to my Mom then to me, I value the book because it provides insights about his mind set and clues about his personality. ……

How did you become aware of the work of your grandfather’s (1881 – 1941)?

We initially became aware of Pépé (grandfather) and his work from our French / American family. This includes our mother, Lucile Ellison, nee Sforzina; Mémé (Isabelle Sforzina); and our French grand aunt and uncle, Tautine (Teresa) and Ernest.

Edgard SforzinaThey all told us stories about Edgard and pointed out the furniture in our home that he designed and commissioned. Mémé kept a collection of  original magazines, newspaper clippings and articles. Also, professional photos, and two privately published commemorative books showing items he designed and rooms he furnished.

We literally grew up amid furniture he created for his home and possibly for the showrooms of Forzina, Inc., the design salon he owned between 1928 and c.1932.

Edgard SforzinaAfter he passed, Mémé must have put the furniture in storage. In 1954 when our parents first started their medical office, they furnished the waiting room and office area with several show room furnishings from the Forzina Salon.[1] That furniture in the waiting room disappeared years later when my parents moved the office to a new location.

[1]  Our father, David S. Ellison, was a surgeon and our mother the office manager. Like her father, she was ahead of her time. She always paid herself a salary and she provided retirement benefits to their employees, who were all women.

Edgard SforzinaThe office furniture moved to our house to furnish our mother’s home office.  In the picture to the right, the two tables (the smaller one is on rollers) were in our home. I remember most of the other items. It is possible to find all these items in one or more of his designs.

LuLu Bed by Edgard SforzinaThis is the “Lulu Bed.” My children established the name when my daughter Claire used it as her own bed and the name has stuck. Edgard actually designed the bed for my mother when she was a child (c. 1928). It is an excellent example of Moderne style with a variety of beautiful woods veneered atop a thick (heavy) hardwood core, a striking design.

Edgard had our mother’s nick name, Lulu veneered into the face-top of the footboard. And, yes, if you look closely, you can see that our mother personalized the graphic with her own artwork. It is still usable as a bed, and we even have the original mattress springs too. However, his furniture is closing in on 100 years of age. The veneers are chipping off and every time it gets moved there is a bit more damage. These pieces need protection from further wear and tear.

 

LuLu bed by Edgard Sforzina

Detail of “LuLu” veneered into the face of the footboard and the LuLu graphic designed by Edgard Sforzina, note the small drawing by daughter Lulu.

A few months ago, I was a bit stunned to see a picture of the LuLu bed on the Internet! It never occurred to me that Peré may have had professional photos of it taken or that he might have shown the bed in an exhibit before giving it to our mother. We still have all the pieces shown in the photo. It is certainly possible that two sets were made, but knowing the effort he went to make this bed unique for our mother, it seems unlikely.

You can see the entire bed set on the untapped new york website. The site posted an article by Julia Vitullo-Martin on Marilyn Friedman’s book, “Making America Modern: Interior Design in the 1930’s” (Bauer & Dean, 2018). All of the pieces shown in the photo are part of the Sforzina Collection. Just for fun, here is a picture of our mother and Mitzi on the Bed.

Edgard SforzinaAs children, we knew our mother had many of her father’s drawings and designs. Unlike the furniture we grow up with, we rarely saw them. I have vague memories of seeing photostats of the design plans for the Cincinnati Union Terminal executive suite and other drawings. Our Mom did not want to risk damaging them by letting us riffle through them. So, for decades she kept them in a bureau up in the attic. But, we may have peeked into the forbidden bureau a time or two. It may have been as late as 2015 before I had better look at them.

Edgard Sforzina designUntil Art Deco Society of Washington members Deborah Sorensen (curator), Jim Linz (Art Deco author), and I unfolded and unrolled all the drawings, I did not realize how many there were. In truth we saw several of his designs for the very first time as we inventoried the collection. Predominantly, Edgard used pastels or pencils to create his designs. Until 2003, his portable wooden container of design & drafting tools was in our basement. Sometime between then and when we created the collection, it has gone missing. Hopefully it is somewhere in one of the homes among our family.

The variety and beauty of his drawings is impressive. It includes, sketches, architectural elevations, renderings and levels, concept plans and technical plans. The breadth and depth of his design abilities ranged from a simple object (e.g., a lamp, a vase, etc.,) to furniture, a room set, a composite of rooms, houses of varying levels and size, architectural drawings of large commercial buildings and towers. It even includes some of his personal artwork. You see a range of design styles other than Modernism. The collection includes a few designs in Louis XV and French Directorate Style. Other designs could be considered minimalistic; their omission of decor is balanced solely by simple accents from nature.

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When did you realize the significance of your grandfather’s work?

I slowly began to grasp the significance artistry as I worked with the ADSW to establish the collection. Edgard’s works had been a privately shared collection within our family network for over seventy years. Its significance was its familial heritage and its connection to our brilliant and creative grandfather. I did not know how to think about it from historical, social or cultural perspectives.

As our family’s self-appointed historian, I always knew I would write something about our grandfather to let our children’s children learn of him. I wanted to write up the stories and deeds our mother shared, not as a straight repeat of her words, but with more substantiation of the events and accomplishments of his life.  Never did I anticipate where that little thought of mine would lead us.

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Edgard Sforzina

Photo: Designs for Modern Living Rooms. Edgard Sforzina. Sforzina Collection

When Steve, Jim, Deborah and I first started, I was concerned that I was asking the ADSW to investigate a collection that may not have enough cultural significance to merit their time and effort. I felt “aghast” at the thought of that prospect.

At the same time, I felt a strong conviction that we needed to understand this collection, and if merited, then Edgard and his work should be preserved and his story become part of our cultural history.  To me, that translated into, the recognition that we may need to donate his collection.

Steeling myself for possible mortification, I placed my faith in our mother’s trust and moved on. As Jim and Deborah and I worked, and their enthusiasm grew and I felt relieved.

The 2022 Modernism Show in Washington (April 30 – May 1), was the first public viewing of anything created by Sforzina since, well, before 1941. It was the first public viewing of his work in my lifetime. Some people scanned the material and moved on. Others stopped and took their time reading, absorbing the images, pointing, and talking with their companion(s) about the exhibit, or something they noticed, or a memory it invoked. Several people, like you (Anthony), stayed to talk with my sisters and me, and ask questions or to share their story about a connection they felt to one of the buildings he decorated.

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Something happened soon after that was life altering. Can you tell us about that?

Yes. In June 2022, Jim Linz, my husband Harry, and I were invited to meet with the staff and leadership of the Museums of Cincinnati, Ohio which is housed in the Cincinnati Union Terminal.

After giving us a private tour of the terminal, museums, library, and their archives, we sat down and focused the conversation on Sforzina’s work with Fellheimer & Wagner, (F&W) on the Terminal. We were able to show them our copies of our grandfather’s drawings of the Suite.

The historian carefully examined the designs. It may have been the longest few minutes of my life.  Finally, he said that he was comfortable to say that our documents depicted the final plans of the Executive Suite and moving forward his organization would assign attribution to Sforzina for this work (this is not a quote, rather this is what I heard).

It seems silly, but it was so emotional that time went into slow motion. In the expanse of that single statement, in the time it took for the Historian to speak his words, he affirmed for me and my family, forever, that our grandfather drew these designs, something we always believed, and could now speak freely about. We did not have to feel sheepish or make any caveats.

It is so hard to describe that feeling of gravitas that comes over you sometimes. On this occasion, it was accompanied by a deep sense of peace to have this question resolved, and overwhelming feelings of joy for our mother and grandfather.  While I don’t think that anyone noticed, it took me about five minutes before I started processing again.

To clarify for the readers, it was a “matter-of-fact” to our mother that Edgard drew these design plans for the Cincinnati Union Terminal on behalf of F&W. Our grandfather worked with or for F&W from 1930 to 1933 on this project.  During that time, she was 8 – 10 years old and she knew what her father was working on, it was a big deal for him professionally and his projects were a huge focus of this tiny family. We also have his copy of his designs. Unfortunately, he was not given any mention or credit for that work or other design plans and decorations he drew during that time. So, he did not benefit from follow-on work from other large companies. Our research on our grandfather’s career suggests that he and Fellheimer maintained a business friendship from 1929 onward. He was clearly an employee of F&W, as an architect as of 1938 through 1941 when he passed away.

What was your grandfather’s background in art and design?

Our grandfather received both a traditional and a formal background in art and design. His immersion in the world of art and design was lifelong. This is a great topic regarding Edgard.

Family background: We know from family records and French civil documents that our line of Sforzina’s were stone masons, les tailleurs de pierre, and artisans. His forefathers: Antonio (1790–1860), Dominique (1815-1887), and Jean-Antoine (1853–1914) passed down their skills and their trade, father to son, for roughly 100 years and possibly longer. Jean-Antoine Sforzina, grew up in Nice. After completing his formal education, he moved to the Left Bank  in the heart of Montparnasse and lived there for the rest of his life. The only details I know about his career are that he worked in the Notre Dame Cathedrale de Paris on l’ÎIe de la Cité for his entire career.  Apparently one of his duties involved maintaining the Rose Windows.

This is where Edgard grew up. It was also the time when that district was becoming a cultural hub for artists, writers, social reformers, and others.

Edgard was the eldest son of M. Jean-Antoine and Mme. Marie Joachine (Chichaud) Sforzina. By family accounts, he demonstrated an innate talent and a natural affinity for the Arts early in his life.

Traditional Education: Edgard and his brother, Parfait, were born at a time when children could still work side by side with their parents and learn the skills of their trade.

Another book our grandfather brought to the United States when he immigrated was a soft leather-bound textbook printed in both Italian and French. Jean-Antoine received it from his father, Dominique, and passed it to Edgard. On the front page of the book, someone, possibly, Dominique himself, wrote his name, address, and the date “1827”. If the date reflects the year Dominique received the book, then he was 12 years old at the time[2] and well on his way toward learning his trade as a mason.

Edgard SforzinaPublic Education: Edgard received his entire education in Paris, France, largely within walking distance from his home. He earned his Baccalaureate and was then accepted into the L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs[3]  (Note: this is the current name of the school) where he studied architecture, design, and decoration. In American vernacular, L’ Ecole Nationale Supérieure” is the name of the institution, and Arts Décoratif is its institutional division.  The school was officially opened in 1767 by letter patent of King Louis XV.  Its goal then, and now, is to develop arts-related professions and thereby to increase the quality of industrial products.”

[2]  In the 18th century the Sforzina family lived in (what is today) Veli Lošinj, Croatia. Dominque moved to Nice (a.k.a. Nizza) before 1853 when it was still part of the Kingdom of Savoy. The family lived there until 1876 when Jean Antoine moved to 76 Boulevard Edgard Quinet in Paris, France at the age of 23. Nizza/Nice did not become part of France permanently until 1860.
[3] “Grande école | French education | Britannica”. www.britannica.com, (accessed 29 May 2022).

The program has evolved considerably since its founding. Since 2010, a diploma from the school is equivalent to a Master’s degree. (see History). Former students from the school include well known figures such as Henri Matisse, Charles Garnier, and Jean-Paul Goude among others (see History).”

 

When Sforzina immigrated to the United States, how did he establish himself in the design field?

He was fortunate because he did not have to start from scratch. He was already established in Paris having totaled 16 years of working consecutively with four of the most highly respected “Maisons” of art, design, and furniture. This includes Alavoine & Co. with whom he worked since 1919 in their Paris office before transferring to their New York office. It is possible that he already knew some of his colleagues in the NYC office through school, previous employment, or inter-office correspondence.

His association with such an eminent firm gave him access to their network of architects, designers, artisans, etc., as well as to their wealthy and sophisticated clientele.

In 1929 the Arts in Industry Group invited 18 of the “most up and coming” New York City designers to compete for the opportunity to display their design in an exhibition being hosted by the Group. Sforzina was one of the designers invited to exhibit. In effect this was a subtle way for the group to enlarge itself and to have some influence over what comprised American Modern Art.

A double page spread in the Upholstery and Interior Decorator Magazine on April 15, 1928, quotes Charles Milgrim as saying,

“When Charles Milgrim first decided to give to the new store a perfect entity of modern decoration, he sent for Edgard Sforzina of Paris, and entrusted to him the scheme of decoration.”

 

Because your grandfather was French, he was at ground zero for the new modern style that has become known as Art Deco. Do you think his work had influence on American designers and the modern design field?

Yes, I think so. Sforzina tended to be an early adapter. In our traveling exhibit, we dedicated an entire panel to his innovations for which we found supporting citations.

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Can you tell us more about your grandfather’s employers?

Yes. The source information for his work history comes mainly from two documents, one written c. 1934 and the other in 1939. The dates are refined by information from family clippings of advertisements, newspapers, professional journals, and magazines during the Art Deco era. Additionally, ADSW members, Mr. Jim Linz, President Emeritus, Board Member, Author, and Proprietor of the on-line store, www.Deco-Rations.net, Ms. Deborah Sorensen, Curator, and I researched his employers and clients and more information.

1902 – 1904 Mercier Frères, (1828 -) At this time most companies offering interior furniture and decor services were primarily art and antique dealers. They started providing other services by hiring the craftsmen and artisans as needed on a commission-only basis. Mercier Brothers, became a well-known and reputable furniture and décor manufacturer.

1905 – Carlhian & Beaumetz, of Paris, France with offices in Cannes, London, New York, and Buenos Aires (1867 – 1988). Like Mercier Frères, Carlhian & Beaumetz started as an Art and Antique company. Sforzina worked there around the time that the firm was transitioning from its two founders to Carlhian’s two sons. The Duveen Brothers were one of their most important clients. They worked with Carlhian as an intermediary for dealings, and export commissions in the French market not involving fine art and antique objects. Sforzina states in his 1939 resume that he worked “almost exclusively for their primary client, Sir Joseph Duveen.”

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Between 1906 – 1917. In his 1939 resume, Sforzina states that on his own, he worked for Waring and Gillow of Rue de la Boetie, Paris, France, and other large firms. Waring and Gillow were a notable English furniture manufacturing company that also an antique dealer, headquartered in London. He notes that the office was just off the Champs-Élysées. The firm closed in 1988.

1919 – Probably 1927.  L. Alavoine & Co., 9 Rue Caumartin Office, Paris, France
This company transferred Sforzina to their office at 712 5th Avenue, New York City, New York, USA (1922 – c.1927).

1928 – April 12. Sforzina leased the entire 4th floor of the tower at 424 Madison Avenue, New York City to open his Interior Design and Decoration firm Forzina, Inc., (Brooklyn Eagle 1928, 64). The following provides some insights about when he transitioned to working full time with F&W:

1930 – 1933 Sforzina in his 1939 resume states, “3 years, designer, Fellheimer & Wagner, Architects, 42 St. [New York City]– for plans, designs, and decorations….” for the Cincinnati Union Terminal. (Translated from French and verified).

1932 – December 1st. Sforzina wrote a letter of recommendation for his secretary, in which he states that she had worked for him for three years.  He goes on to say he that the only reason she is losing her job is because the “…present bad business conditions compel” him to close his office.

1933/4 – 35/6. Collaborated with Mr. Samuel Mandeville as “Mandeville and Sforzina” though there is no evidence that they were formally partners.

1938 – 1941. Employee of Fellheimer & Wagner

1941 – February 7, Sforzina passed away unexpectedly from Peptic Ulcer disease.

Who were your grandfather’s Clients? 

We have no information about his clients in Europe. We have a growing list of his clients in the United States from NYC, New York State, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, and Ohio.  Here is a sampling of his clients between 1928 – 1941.

United States: Known Clients, dates unknown but probably completed by 1934:

  • Persifor Frazer III, 3 Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA

  • F. G. M., Penthouse, 440 West End Street, NYC, NY

  • Frederick Lewisohn, 730 Park Avenue, NYC, NY

  • Stewart Walker, 369 Lexington Avenue, NYC, NY

  • Stanley Simon, 480 Park Ave., NYC, NY

  • T. A. Goldsmith, 36 East 31 Street, NYC, NY

  • Gimbel Bros., Philadelphia, PA

Unites States: Clients and Dates

  • 1928 – Milgrim New York City, NY, 6 West 57th Street, NYC, NY Forzina, Inc.

  • 1928 – Slattery’s Department Store; Forzina, Inc., Boston, MA

  • 1928 – Hutzler Brothers, Baltimore, MD, Forzina, Inc.

  • 1928/ 29 – Saks Fifth Avenue Department Store, NYC, NY., Forzina, Inc.

  • 1928/29 – Mr. George Gershwin, 33 Riverside Drive, NYC, NY, Forzina, Inc.

  • 1929/30 – Mr. Albert Fellheimer, 110 Riverside Drive, NYC, NY; Forzina, Inc.

  • 1930 – 1933 – Fellheimer & Wagner, Architects, NYC, NY, Forzina, Inc.

  • 1930 – Hirsh Lilienthal Stockbrokers, NYC, NY, Probably Forzina, Inc.

  • 1930 – International Ticket Office, Chicago, IL, Probably Forzina, Inc.

  • 1931 – Mrs. C. B. Harding, 110 Riverside Dr., NYC, NY, Forzina, Inc.

  • 1934 – Lilly Dache, Inc., 485 Madison Avenue, NYC, NY

  • 1934 – Wallach Bros. NYC, NY, Mandeville & Sforzina

  • 1935 – McCarthy Dry Goods, Woonsocket, RI, Mandeville & Sforzina

  • 1935 – Germaine Millinery, 5th Avenue, NYC, NY; Mandeville & Sforzina

  • 1935 –Witherall Department Store, Syracuse, NY

  • 1935 – Brooks, 5th Avenue, NYC, NY; Mandeville & Sforzina

  • 1936 – Miss G. Germaine, 440 West End Avenue, NYC, NY

  • (1940) CBS Building, 49 East 52 Street, NYC, NY; with Fellheimer & Wagner

Even if your grandfather’s name isn’t immediately known, what are some of his works that people are familiar with? 

By far the most famous project is the Cincinnati Union Terminal, followed by Gershwin’s Riverside Drive apartment, the Cloud Club of the Chrysler Building, and the CBS building.

Cloud Club, Chrysler Building

Cloud Club (Photo via ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com)

Your grandfather passed away in 1941 this is now considered the tail end of the Art Deco era; do you feel that had he lived longer he would have adapted his style to the changing tastes of the times?

Absolutely. You see in his drawings his diversity of styles. One of my mother’s descriptions of him was that he was ahead of his time. Around 1935, four years before the 1939 World’s Fair, he started designing furniture for the emerging middle class. Also, when he died, he was working for Fellheimer and Wagner, who were already preparing to build Airports.

If he could have lived, without the problems of peptic ulcers, he still had a bright future ahead of him.

When your grandfather designed the furniture that went into the rooms, did he have these pieces custom made? 

Yes, I believe so. Forzina, Inc. operated from 1928 through December, 1931 and after that he had to sell it. During that time period we know that the Milgrim store (1928) furniture was made by artisans and the furniture in Slattery’s (1928) was made by “Boston Artisans.”

After your grandfather’s passing, where did the archive of his works (drawings, sketches, paperwork) end up? 

Until 2020 these items stayed within the family. Some of the furniture went to Tautine and her husband and unfortunately, that furniture is gone now.

Mémé must have kept the rest of the furniture in storage until she moved to Florida. Then, as stated previously, our parents must have had the items in storage, until they opened their medical practice in 1954. They used Edgard’s furniture to furnish their waiting room and business office.

They placed the bedroom furniture and other items in our home. Later when our parents moved their office to a new location, the furniture that had been in the waiting room disappeared. We assume the furniture was worn out.

Our parents either donated or let the furniture go to the dump. By that time, the family had already moved into our final home. In that home, the parents’ continued to use Edgard’s furniture in their bedroom and our mother’s home office. The drawings and other papers went into storage in the attic. Other furniture was used in the living room or as accents some here or relegated to the garage attic.

In summary, there have been several more exchanges of address where we stored items and who was using which piece of furniture.  More recently our children have their own homes and have wanted to use the some of the furniture. Over the years we have also lost some of the smaller tables and.  All in all, I would say we have only half the furniture that was originally part of Edgard’s legacy.

Paper is such a fragile medium. How have you preserved or plan to preserve the archive of your grandfather’s work? Is any of it digitized?

Starting in 2019, my family is donating their items from Edgard’s legacy to the collection. Items received prior to 2021 have been inventoried, digitized, and placed in archival containers inside a rented storage locker. This represents the bulk of the collection.  The items received after 2021 have been inventoried and are in storage.  These items are not in archival containers yet.

The Art Deco Society of Washington DC. was essential to my success with gathering and archiving his collection. Now that we have finished our book, I will pursue my goal to donate this collection to the right organization, museum, or design school.

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Is there anything you’d like to add to the Sforzina story? 

Sforzina had a relatively short career spanning 35 years, 38 years if including his military service. He was an early and important French / American decorator, designer, innovator, and architect. He brought his career to the United States before the 1925 International Exposition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris.

For 29 years he was an employee of the leading design companies in Paris, France where the full extent of his talent and contributions are veiled. He worked no more than 9 years for himself. During which he was considered a well-known designer.

The Edgard Sforzina Collection preserves 600+ artifacts of his work, including a variety of documents, furniture, and predominantly working designs depicting his process between 1930 and January 1941, a ten-year period. It is a wonderful collection and yet just a small portion of his total works.

Whether employee or employer, he influenced and was influenced by his peers, which collectively contributed to how we live today.  During his brief periods with Forzina and later Mandeville & Sforzina, he and his associates were a powerhouse of constructive productivity that drew the attention of the press, journalists, and photographers.

He was recognized for his innovations and he developed a strong business relationship with Fellheimer.

During his short life he accomplished so much. His last nine years especially, his star shined so bright.  He lived his dream of owning and operating his own design firm, Forzina, Inc. and the freedom to follow his own lead. Most of all, he got to have his say about Modern design and living.

Thank you, Denise, for your time in answering our questions. And, for giving us the opportunity to help get your grandfather’s name and accomplishments out into the world. 

We are pleased to announce to our readers that a comprehensive book regarding Edgard Sforzina is being released shortly. This exciting, color-illustrated book delves deeper into his treasure trove of work. It was written and soon to be published with the gracious assistance and in association with the Art Deco Society of Washington, D.C.

You can meet and talk to the authors at the 20th Century Cincinnati Show, on February 26th at 10:00am with a book signing following.

20th Century Cincinnati Show

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’, Tiquen Guys)

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Reference List

“Art in Industry.” 1928. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 4, 1928. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112345525/1928-art-in-industry/ (Accessed Oct. 13, 1922).

Barozzio de Vignole, Jacques. N.d. Rules of the Five Orders of Architecture by M. Jacques Barozzio de Vignole: With a new augmentation by Michel Angelo Bonaroli and others. Paris : Chez la Ve de la F. Chéreau [Rue Saint-Jacques aux 2 Piliers d’Or].

.“Beauty Combined with Convenience in Modernistic Rooms.”1929. Art & Decoration. February, 1929

Bender, Marylin. “Hattie Carnegie’s Shop to Close Early in Year.”: https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/26/archives/hattie-carnegies-shop-to-close-early-in-year.html (Accessed November, 2022)

Carlhian (Firm) records. 1867-1988. The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 930092. https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8z89dsn/entire_text/. Accessed November 27, 2022

“Commercial Leases.” 1928. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 12 1928. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112345295/1928-forzina-inc-lease/ (Accessed Oct 31, 2022)

GGArchives.com. 2022. “SS Rochambeau Passenger List – 7 November 1922.” https://www.ggarchives.com/OceanTravel/Passengers/FrenchLine/Rochambeau-PassengerList-1922-11-07.html

Internet Archive, “The New Art — American Made”, https://archive.org/details/sim_interiors_1928-04-15_80/page/108/mode/2up (Access 09 Nov 2022)

Miller, Tom. 2017. “The L. Alavoine & Co. Façade – No. 712 Fifth Avenue.” Daytonian in Manhattan. https://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/search?q=Alavoine. (Accessed, October, 2022)

Patterson, Curtis. 1931. “Georgian Calm with Modernist Repose.” Harper’s Bazaar, April, 1931

Stern, Robert A. M., Gilmarten, Gregory, and Mellins, Thomas. 1987. New York 1930: Architecture and Urbanism between the two World Wars. New York: Rizzoli

Thorne, Oliver. 1930. “The New York Salons of Forzina.” Home and Field Magazine. January, 1930.

Wikipedia contributors, “Waring & Gillow,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Waring_%26_Gillow&oldid=1110612657  (accessed November 27, 2022).

Other Articles that were not Cited

Boyd, Jr., John Taylor. 1929. “Milgrim — A Fashion Shop for Women.” Architectural Record. Vol 65. June 1929 523-33

“An Art Moderne Setting for Women’s Apparel.” 1928. Good Furniture. May 30, 1928. 239-44.

Rose, Linda C., Rose, Patrick, Yungblut, Gibson, Hord, Edmonston 2003. Cincinnati Union Terminal: The Design and Construction of an Art Deco Masterpiece. Vol. 1. Cincinnati Railroad Club: Ohio. 75 – 80

Reference Library Update: Home Talent

Walter Dorwin Teague portrait

Walter Dorwin Teague, circa 1939. Image from idsa.org.

 

December 18th marks the 135th year since the birth of Walter Dorwin Teague. This latest Reference Library update comes from the January, 1939 House Beautiful. The brief article features Teague’s interior design for his apartment in Manhattan’s exclusive River House.  River House (designed by the firm of Bottomley, Wagner & White, 1931) is located at the end of East 52nd Street. When it opened, it was at the end of a street of tenement houses. It was the inspiration for Sidney Kingsley’s 1935 play, Dead End.

 

River House, 1931.

River House, December 15, 1931. Samuel H. Gottscho photograph from the mcny.org

 

Born in Pendleton, Indiana, Teague aspired to become an artist while still in high school. At the age of 19 he moved to New York City to study at the Art Students League of New York. Between 1908 and the mid-1920’s Teague worked in advertising, typography and graphic design. Creating frames for ads based on Baroque and Renaissance designs became his signature style. In time these frames would become known by the generic term “Teague Borders”, even if they were not designed by him.

 

 
1922 Arrow Collar Ad.
1922 J. C. Leyendecker Arrow Collar illustration with frame by Walter Dorwin Teague. Image from Pinterest.



Teague left commercial advertising work in the mid-1920’s. He set off for Europe to study the new modern styles. While there, Teague became familiar with the work of the Bauhaus at an exposition in Italy.  From this point forward his work would be influenced by Le Corbusier and the Bauhaus. After returning to the United States, Teague entered the industrial design field. His first major commission came from the Eastman Kodak Company. Teague designed a number of cameras for Kodak. The Bauhaus style is very evident in the Kodak 1A Gift Camera (1930) and the less expensive Beau Brownies (1930 – 1933).

 

 

Kodak Beau Brownies.
Kodak Beau Brownie No 2A in shades of brown and No 2 in black and maroon (1930 -1933). From the collection of the author.


Teague continued designing for Kodak into the mid-1930’s. His crowning achievement for the company came with the exceptionally designed Kodak Bantam Special of 1936. 

 

Kodak Bantam Special.

The Kodak Bantam Special, 1936, with its original box. Image from http://kodak.digitalfx.tv.

By the early 1930’s Teague became one of the top industrial designers in the United States. This put him in the ranks with Norman Bel Geddes, Raymond Loewy and Henry Dreyfuss. During this period some of his other clients included Sparton Radio and Texaco. 

 

Sparton Bluebird Radio.

Walter Dorwin Teague’s 566 “Bluebird” radio for Sparton, 1936. This model is in the collection at the Corning Museum of Glass. Author’s photo.

 

Texaco station rendering.

Teague rendering for the prototype Texaco service station, 1936. Image from NC University.

 

He began exhibition work with the Ford Pavilion at Chicago’s 1933-1934 Century of Progress Exposition. 

 

 

Roof of Safety.

Roof of Safety exhibit inside the Ford Building, Century of Progress 1933 – 1934. Image from https://chicagology.com

 

Ford Globe.

Globe in the Court of the World, Ford Exhibit at the Century of Progress. Image from https://chicagology.com

As a result of his work in Chicago, Teague continued his association with Ford. He created their exhibit at the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego. The following year, his Texaco exhibit proved to be a popular attraction at Dallas’s Texas Centennial Exposition. For the New York World’s Fair Teague’s exhibit work included commissions from Ford, United States Steel and National Cash Register. 

 

Ford Cyclorama

Teague’s Ford Cyclorama at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.Image from https://designhistorylab.com                                                                                                                    

Working in collaboration with Edwin Fuerst for Libbey Glass they created the Embassy pattern. The glasses engraved with an eagle and stars were used at the Federal Building at the New York World’s Fair. Glasses without the engraving were sold to the public. These are very collectible today. 

 

Embassy pattern glass.

Walter Dorwin Teague and Edwin Fuerst glass in the Embassy pattern for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. This glass is in the collection at the Corning Museum of Glass. Author’s photo.

 

While Teague was busy putting the final touches on several exhibits at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, House Beautiful honored him with a feature on his apartment. To read the article click on the magazine cover below.

 

January, 1939 House Beautiful.

January, 1939 issue of House Beautiful.

 

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin, Tiquen Guys)