Late 19th Century Italianate Wrought Iron Torchieres - a Pair

Description

Wrought iron torchier designed by Addison Mizner in the early 30's for Florida development . Using European craftsmen ,H e … more Wrought iron torchier designed by Addison Mizner in the early 30's for Florida development . Using European craftsmen ,H e manufactured decorative elements for his Palm Beach development ensuring quality craftmanship and supply. Many of decorative elements were for the lavish Mediterranean style estates he designed and developed.
ADDISON MIZNER IN BOCA RATON
by Dr. Donald Curl 2003

By 1925, Addison Mizner (1872-1933) personified the idea of "Society Architect." His Palm Beach mansions for the wealthy and socially prominent created both a new architectural style and a new life style for America’s preeminent winter resort. Born in Benicia, California to one of the state’s pioneer families, Mizner had traveled extensively in his early years. Although without formal university training in architecture, he had studied design his entire life. Like most members of his profession in these years, he received his formal training as an apprentice to a practicing architect. In Mizner’s case, a three year apprenticeship in the office of Willis Polk, later a prominent San Francisco architect. After a decade as a country house architect on Long Island, Mizner came to Palm Beach with sewing machine heir Paris Singer during the winter of 1918. It was his design for Singer’s Everglades Club that introduced Mediterranean style architecture to the resort. The success of the club lead to commissions for resort mansions for the leaders of Palm Beach society. In order to fill these commissions, Mizner found it necessary to establish workshops in West Palm Beach to make the tiles, wrought iron fixtures, and cast-stone trim and columns to decorate the exterior of his houses, and later the furniture for the interiors. less