New Exhibit: Strength, Utility, and Beauty: Architectural Metal in the Gilded Age
Feb 06, 2015
The Architectural Heritage Center has opened a new exhibit which utilizes architectural artifacts and period catalogs from its collections to interpret the variety and versatility of metals found in and on late 19th and early 20th century buildings in Portland, Oregon. While Portland is well-known for its large collection of standing cast-iron front buildings, other materials commonly used for ornament, structure, and fixtures were bronze, lead, tin, copper, steel, brass, and zinc. Selected from almost 2000 metal items in the museum collections are artifacts such as elaborate bronze light fixtures, a steel weathervane, leaded-glass windows, iron cresting, ornamental animals, and a copper bathtub. Many of the items were produced locally. The Architectural Heritage Center is located at 701 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214, and is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 am – 4:30 pm. Admission is free for members, and $3.00 for the general public. For more information, contact Val Ballestrem, Education Manager; valb@visitahc.org; 503-231-7264 or go to the website: www.visitahc.org/content/current-exhibits Presented at the Architectural Heritage Center’s Meyer Memorial Gallery with a greatly-appreciated grant from the Oregon Heritage Commission.
