Category: WHAT IS IT?

Buildings, People, RECENT FINDS, WHAT IS IT?, WHERE IS IT?

SBCS Miscellany

Bookend Collector
Cast Metal Model of the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel
Cast Metal Model of the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel

Following the SBCS Convention tour of the Florida Southern College Architectural District, a collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, it was observed that a miniature of the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel had been created as a building fundraiser some time in the 1930s.  Steven and Ethan C have a one in their collection. It was purchased about 2010 from a collector in Atlanta who would only part with one of a pair of bookends.

Photo of Annie Pfeiffer Bookend
Annie Pfeiffer Chapel bookend single. Width – 6 1/2”, Ht. 5 1/2”, Depth – 1 1/2”. Private Collection.

CHECK OUT THIS COLLECTION!

Photo of Community Collections marquee
Community Collections: A Sampling fo Souvenir Buildings. Photo courtesy of Anna Grant
Community Collections: A Sampling of Souvenir Buildings. View at the City Reliquary Museum. Exhibit closes in September 2015.
Community Collections: A Sampling of Souvenir Buildings. View at the City Reliquary Museum. Exhibit closes in September 2015. Photo courtesy of Anna Grant.

The City Reliquary Museum in Brooklyn, NY is showcasing in their Community Collections exhibit: “A Sampling of Souvenir Buildings” from the collection of SBCS President Joe Kopitz.  They can be viewed in person at the Museum, on the City Reliquary Museum Facebook page and on the Souvenir Building Collectors Society Facebook page.

FACE BOOK Friend Days:

Of late, the Souvenir Building Collectors Society Facebook page has been hosting some lively discussions and a spate of interesting souvenir building photo postings requesting and receiving identifications. Carolyn C. kicked off these discussions on a Wednesday some weeks ago with a “Where Is It Wednesday?”.This has morphed into “Who Has It Wednesday?”, “and “What Is It Wednesday?” with resulting ID’s and pictures of the actual buildings.

Photo of Dormition Church
Where Is It Wednesday? Identified as Dormition Church, Kondopoga.
Photo of Maine-Montparnasse
Friday Finds: Resin Replica of Maine-Montparnasse Tower, Paris.

 Added to this ‘Day of the Week’ conversation is “Throwback Thursday” and “Test Tarun Thursday” (Tarun V. having shown an unbelievable rapidity in identifying previously unidentified souvenirs). And Tarun has contributed another category, “Friday Finds.”

Become a member of SBCS and join the conversation. Click here for Membership Information.

Buildings, Monuments, WHAT IS IT?, WHERE IS IT?

WHAT IS IT??? WHERE IS IT???

Bookend Collector

Debuted in Volume 1, No. 1 (1994), of the SBCS Journal, the first publication of the feature “WHAT IS IT??? WHERE IS IT???” resulted in a quick identification. By the next issue of the Journal, 2 collectors’ had identified the pictured nameless monument as the monumental statue of Ferdinand I atop a column surrounded by four Moorish slaves. It stands in the square near the harbor in Livorno (Leghorn), Italy.

Photo of Ferdinand 1 Souvenir monument
The first “What Is It??? What is It??? photo from Vol 1, No. 1 of the SBCS Journal.

In the same article that reported the identification of Ferdinand I, two more buildings were posited for identification: St. Botolph’s Church in Boston, England and a penholder desk set labeled “Addressograph-Multigraph Corp.” Also, at this time, “the mystery gift for a mystery solved” tradition began. It was suggested that the collector looking for information provide a mystery gift to the first person to solve the puzzle.

Carol D. has shared the background on the St. Botolph’s quick identification.  She had a friend who came from Boston, England and Carol had visited her there and had actually climbed the “stump” as the tower is affectionately known.  Her “mystery gift” arrived 6 months later from knowledge seeker, Dave F.. a set of S&P shakers of the Watchtower on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  They are still in her collection.

By the 3rd issue of the SBCS Journal, the identification of little buildings and monuments was well underway. In that issue the desk cigarette smoking set of the Dahlstrom Building was featured. Bill T. tracked down a VP of Dahlstrom Manufacturing Co., Jamestown, NY who confirmed the replica was of the administration/office building, built in 1926.

Dahlstrom Manufacturing Co Administration Bldg., Jamestown, Ny
Dahlstrom Manufacturing Co Administration Bldg., Jamestown, Ny

Do you have a Souvenir Building or Monument that needs identifying? The members of SBCS are very knowledgeable and are happy to help you identify your building. If it is one that is not readily recognized, such that SBCS cannot quickly respond to your request, it may be a candidate for a “WHAT IS IT??? WHERE IS IT???” post.

Click here to send a request for identification of a building or monument.