Sketches of "The Ford Empire" for the Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium

Dublin Core

Title

Sketches of "The Ford Empire" for the Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium

Subject

Drawing, American--20th century.
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998

Description

Graphite and ink on tracing paper
16.5" x 13.75"

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.

Creator

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998

Source

Marshall M. Fredericks Papers
Series VIII, Cabinet 1 Drawer 8 Folder 7

Date

c. 1956

Rights

Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Archives.

Relation

VIII-01-08-07

Format

image/jpeg

Language

eng

Type

Graphite and ink drawing

Identifier

1998.001.VIII.211

Drawing Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Graphite and ink drawing

Physical Dimensions

16.5" x 13.75"

Files

1998_001_VIII_211.jpg

Citation

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Sketches of "The Ford Empire" for the Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium,” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed November 21, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/6777.