Roman Bronze Works Archive
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AMON CARTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART ARCHIVES COLLECTION GUIDE Collection Summary Title: Roman Bronze Works Archive Date: 1902–1977 Creator(s): Roman Bronze Works, Inc. Extent: 77 linear feet Code: RBW Repository: Amon Carter Museum of American Art Archives Abstract: The Roman Bronze Works Archive (1902–1977) comprises seventy–seven linear feet of records on bronze sculpture — freestanding figures and public monuments as well as architectural and decorative works — by almost every important American figurative sculptor active between 1900 and 1950. The materials purchased by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art include the extant records of the foundry's period of greatest activity, from 1902 until the mid–1960s, with particularly important materials documenting the formative years from 1902 until about 1920. A fire in the late 1920s destroyed many of the foundry's early records and left the surviving materials damaged, but even in its current condition and incomplete state, the Roman Bronze Works Archive is the fullest surviving record of any historic American fine–arts foundry. Information for Researchers Access Restrictions The collection is open to qualified researchers. Use Restrictions The Roman Bronze Works Archive is the physical property of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Rights to materials produced by others were not acquired, and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art assumes no responsibility for infringement of literary property rights or copyrights or for liability to any person for defamation or invasion of privacy. Preferred Citation Roman Bronze Works Archive, [series information], [item identification], Amon Carter Museum of American Art Archives. Related Collections in the Amon Carter Museum of American Art Archives None Contact the museum archivist at [email protected] or 817.989.5077 for additional information. Administrative Information Acquisition and Custody Information Purchased from the Roman Bronze Works, Inc., 1991. Processed By Karin Strohbeck, Jonathan Frembling, and Paula Stewart Historical Note The Roman Bronze Works was established in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899 by Riccardo Bertelli, a Genoese with intimate knowledge of European methods of bronze casting. The foundry flourished, casting primarily art sculpture, and in 1928 became a subsidiary of the General Bronze Corporation. During its association with General Bronze, the Roman Bronze Works moved to the old Tiffany bronze studios in Corona, Long Island, where it continued to cast art sculpture as well as more commercial pieces, including architectural elements such as floor registers, door jambs, window casings, lamps, and sconces. In 1948 the foundry was purchased from the parent corporation by the Schiavo family who had worked for the Roman Bronze Works for most of its history. Although it no longer operated out of the Corona studios, the Roman Bronze Works remained active until recently. In 1990 Dr. Rick Stewart, then Curator of Western Painting and Sculpture at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, learned that the business records of the Roman Bronze Works foundry would be sold piecemeal unless a buyer for the complete archive were found immediately. Dr. Stewart examined the materials on–site and assessed their value, and on his recommendation the museum purchased the records. While at the foundry, the records were stored under conditions inadequate for preservation. When the materials arrived at the museum, immediate steps were taken to stabilize them. A processing plan was developed, and in June 1993 work began to preserve and process the collection. A 1996 grant from The Getty Grant Program facilitated processing the job files and producing a collection guide. Scope and Content Note The Roman Bronze Works Archive (1902–1977) comprises seventy–seven linear feet of records on bronze sculpture — freestanding figures and public monuments as well as architectural and decorative works — by almost every important American figurative sculptor active between 1900 and 1950. The materials purchased by the Carter include the extant records of the foundry's period of greatest activity, from 1902 until the mid–1960s, with particularly important materials from the formative years of 1902 until about 1920. A fire in the late 1920s destroyed many of the foundry's early records and left the surviving materials damaged, but even in its current condition and incomplete state, the Roman Bronze Works Archive is the fullest surviving record of any historic American fine arts foundry. For the study of American sculpture, the ledgers (1902–1919, 1926–1927) and job files (1928– 1977) are particularly crucial. The entries detail the orders of clients, who included artists, architectural firms, museums and galleries, businesses, educational institutions, special interest organizations, and government agencies. Entries provide information on subject or title, dating (model and/or cast), casting sequence, costs (wholesale, retail, and royalties), and market outlets. In addition, the archive includes 791 oversized architectural drawings documenting the decorative elements and fixtures cast by the Roman Bronze Works for ten major municipal and commercial buildings erected during the 1930s and 1940s. The following Series Description provides more detailed information for each record format. Series Description Ledgers: Four general ledgers, dating from 1902 through 1919, are the only extant records from the foundry's early years. In addition to account data, the ledger entries may contain information on sale dates and castings. Entries are made by client name and can be located through the alphabetical index in each volume. Thirty–three general account books from 1926, 1927, and 1948 through 1977 record cash disbursements and receipts, sales and purchases, and accounts receivable, which are organized alphabetically by client name. Order books: Nine order books covering the years 1928 through 1958 contain information such as job number, date, client address, description of piece, quantity ordered, method of casting, delivery terms, contract price, dates when plaster models were received and shipped, and promised and actual shipping dates. Entries are chronological. Client card index: An index of the foundry's clients was begun in the early 1930s and continued through the mid–1970s. The preprinted cards contain handwritten and/or typed information, including client's name, address, job number, date, description of casting, quantity ordered, contract amount, date shipped, and date of disposition of the model. Cards are arranged alphabetically. Customer index cards: These cards date from about the late 1940s through the 1980s and contain information similar to that given on the client cards. Cards are arranged alphabetically. Plaster model index: In 1948, an inventory of plaster models at the foundry was conducted. The preprinted index cards contain handwritten and/or typed information, including name of plaster model, sculptor's name, description of model, size, storage location, and a check in/out section where date and condition were recorded. Files: Sixty–two linear feet of paper files document the foundry's operations from 1927 through 1977. The foundry operations files primarily include correspondence and invoices from utility companies and suppliers of such materials as clay, sand, and metal. Job files content varies from job to job, but a file may contain correspondence, invoices, original artist's sketches and drawings, photographs, and small architectural drawings documenting projects. Each file is labeled with a job number and/or client name. Miscellaneous client files primarily are job estimates and contain correspondence, invoices, original artist's sketches and drawings, photographs, and small architectural drawings documenting projects. The files contain miscellaneous jobs by company, miscellaneous completed jobs, and miscellaneous jobs in alphabetical order. The first page in each folder contains a list of sculptor and/or client names found in the file. Architectural drawings: Seven hundred ninety–one oversized architectural drawings (primarily blueprints) illustrate decorative elements and fixtures and their placement in ten buildings constructed between 1931 and 1941. The buildings represented in these drawings are: 1931 Cincinnati Union Terminal; Fellheimer and Wagner, architects; James Stewart & Co., Inca., contractor Boston Five Cents Savings Bank; Parker, Thomas and Rice, architects; W.A. and H.A. Root, contractor Building, 444 Madison Avenue (New York City); Kohn, Knight, & Vitolo, architects; Gresham Construction Co., contractor 1932 United States Supreme Court Building; Cass Gilbert, Cass Gilbert, Jr., and John R. Rockhart, architects; Geo. Fuller Co., contractor Chicago Post Office; Graham Anderson Probst and White, architects; John Griffiths & Sons Co., contractor 1934 Building, 13th and F Street (Washington, DC); James Baird Co., contractor Building, Monroe and Dearborn Streets (Chicago); Dahl–Stedman Co., contractor Bank for Savings (New York City); George S. Kingsley, architect; Turner Construction Company, contractor 1940 Municipal Airport, La Guardia Field (New York City), Spirit of Flight statue No date Shops and office building, corner of Monroe and Dearborn Streets (Chicago); Aldis & Company, agents East Liberty Presbyterian Church (Pittsburgh); Cram & Ferguson, architects Detailed information for records in each series is recorded in a format best suited to that series. Since researchers looking for information