Close-up of Marshall Fredericks and assistants piecing together metal sections for "The Ford Empire"

Close-up of Marshall Fredericks and assistants piecing together metal sections for "The Ford Empire"

Artists' studios--United States.
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Public sculpture, American
Relief (Art)

The Ford Empire relief was located in the Ford Auditorium constructed on the Detroit riverfront as the new home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra during 1955-1956. Perhaps the most notable feature of the building's interior was the expansive, curvilinear lobby adorned with some of Marshall Fredericks' most delicate and refined sculptures.

A 145-feet long filigreed metal mural, The Ford Empire, swept almost the entire length of the curved outer wall. On the balcony walls at either end of the foyer stood polished metal theatrical groupings of circus performers, musicians, harlequins, and dancers. Formed from literally thousands of pieces of copper, nickel, brass, stainless steel, and aluminum and plated with gold, zinc, and cadmium these pieces were hand-shaped, joined, plated, and polished.

Hartwick, Maurice C.

Marshall M. Fredericks Papers
Series V, Box 11 Folder 24

n.d.

Use of this image requires permission from the creator.

V-11-24

image/jpeg

Image

C-6021

Royal Oak (Mich.)

Black and white print

8" x 10"