This is a highly detailed and accurate reproduction of the 1889 Maxwell Shades and Fixtures catalog, a wonderfully detailed snapshot of late 19th century decorating materials and supplies.
Established around 1890, the metal-stamping firm of W.H. Mullins was widely known over the next thirty years for its sculptures, weathervanes, finials and other building ornaments. Its other products included building components such as skylights, metal roofing and spandrels, elevator cabs, and decorative ceiling panels. Starting in 1906, Mullins also manufactured metal boats and wood and canvas canoes.
The Saint-Gaudens sculpture of the goddess Diana was fabricated by Mullins as a weathervane for New York City’s 1889 Madison Square Garden designed by Stanford White. This was the first outdoor sculpture to be electrically lit, and was even visible across the river in New Jersey. The weathervane was so well balanced that it is said to have required less than a pound of air pressure to revolve.
It’s not generally known that the original figure, considered disproportionately large for its location, was subsequently replaced by a smaller one. The larger Diana, 18 feet tall, was reinstalled on the agricultural building at the Chicago World's Fair. Unfortunately, it was later partially destroyed by fire, and afterward lost.
Our original catalog, c.1895, was in dire condition when we acquired it, a victim of age and insects. We've digitally restored and reproduced the original at an extremely high resolution, printing it on the same heavy gloss paper as the original.
Except for some item numbers on the last page and the ourstery building component on the back cover, identified now by the letter “B” or "E", we have also supplied missing letters eaten by insects. The original cover is included in a full-page color image. The catalog is 25 pages plus illustrated covers.
The images here have been very much reduced in resolution to load faster on your screen.
We have digitally reproduced and restored our original catalog at a high resolution. The pages are printed on a heavy gloss paper reminiscent of the original. This is not a photocopy - our methods allow us to retain image clarity and depth of detail not possible with other methods of reproduction.
Its true spiral binding, unlike a comb binding, allows this book to remain unharmed when left open at the desired place. Heavy clear vinyl covers protect the front and back, and the cover image is reproduced on an even heavier weight paper than the inside pages. Our fine reproductions are already in some museum research libraries. This reproduction catalog is meant to be a permanent reference.
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