To order or for more information please contact us.

Frank Lloyd Wright Bronze Weed Holder: The weed holder was one of Wright’s favorite designs. Historic photographs show the weed holder in his home as well as in the home of clients, filled with dried flowers or weed – a reminder of nature’s fields and woods. The weed holder is made of bronze and measures 29″ tall and sits on a 2″ square base. The suggested retail price is $1,800.00 + Shipping and Handling.

Frank Lloyd Wright Large Copper Urn: Wright first designed this copper urn in the late 1890s, and it appears in photos of several of the houses he created in the earl 1900s. The influence of Wright’s years of study with Louis Sullivan is apparent in the intricate nature of this urn. It was one of Wright’s favorite objects, appearing with minor decorative variation throughout his career. It is known that at least nine were made, including those for the Dana house, Edward C. Waller house, Browne’s Bookstore, and pairs for both the Coonley house and Wright’s own Home and Studio. The urn is created in bronze and measures 18″ tall and the suggested retail price is $5,350.00 + Shipping and Handling.

Frank Lloyd Wright Robie Gate: The gate, an adaptation from the Frederick Robie house, built in Chicago from 1908-10, was part of the motor court. It features a design of grain shafts and angular forms which echoes the full-length windows in the house. The Robie house was one of Wright’s Prairie houses and, in contrast to their usual suburban setting, was right in the city. The prairie houses hugged the ground and opened outward; the deep, overhanging roof and slightly raised placement of the house ensured the family’s privacy. Our gate is painted aluminum and measures 31″ x 16 1/2″. The suggested retail price is $825.00 + Shipping and Handling.

Frank Lloyd Wright D.D. Martin House Vase: The D.D. Martin House vase were designed for the Darwin D. Martin house in Buffalo, New York, 1903-05. Wright often designed furniture and accessories for his homes. It is not clear whether the vase was ever produced. It appears in a drawing for bookshelf in the house. Our reproduction is bronze with a striking, tapered shaft. It measures 30 1/2″ x 4″ and the suggested retail price is $3,525.00 + Shipping and Handling.

Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage-Henredon Tall Square Vase: This vase was designed along with two other vases by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Heritage-Henredon Furniture Company in 1955. They were intended to accompany a line of home furnishings. None of the vases were actually produced, but prototypes were made by Minic, a New York company. Photos of the vases appeared int the November 1955 issue of the The House Beautiful to help promote the furniture line. The original vases were olive wood with copper liners; our reproductions are cast bronze and come in two sizes: Large (32″ x 6″) and Small (16 1/2″ x 3″). The suggested retail cost of the vase is $1,575.00 (Small) and $2,775.00 (Large) + Shipping and Handling.

The cast iron facade of Salt Lake City’s historic ZCMI store has symbolized pioneering commerce and economic vitality on Main Street for more than 135 years.  The Zion’s Co-operative Mercantile Institution retail enterprise, founded in 1868, was one of the first department stores in America. The ZCMI store was also the only department store to be owned by a religious organization, namely The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, until it was sold in 1999 to The May Department Stores Company, now known  as Macy’s, Inc.

The ZCMI cast iron facade was the largest of its kind in Utah.  In a 1973 store expansion, this beloved facade was slated for demolition.  Concerned patrons led a call for preservation and insisted it be restored as a downtown landmark.  Restoration architect Steven T. Baird was hired to develop the protocol for this first major cast iron restoration in the country.  Present-day restoration methods and procedures for cast iron architecture are a credit to his tireless efforts.

Continuing the legacy of their father, Steven T. Baird’s sons’ company, Historical Arts & Casting, Inc., was commissioned in 2007 by City Creek Reserve, Inc.,  to preserve this historic landmark as part of the City Creek project, a broad, mixed-use redevelopment of downtown Salt Lake.  The second major restoration of the ZCMI facade was completed in June 2011.

The Documentary, ZCMI: A Legacy Cast In Iron was produced by Robert A. Baird, Vice President of Operations at Historical Arts & Casting, and was beautifully filmed and edited by Steven McCurdy of Creative Light Productions.  It was created with the spirit of tradition that is found in the heart of Historical Arts & Casting, Inc.  It was also a tribute to the tireless efforts and sharp eye of Steven T. Baird, who passed away a month after the premiere of the documentary in Salt Lake City, Utah.  This documentary is dedicated to him.

Purchase price: $20.00 + Shipping and Handling

To purchase contact our staff: info@historicalarts.com

or

1-800-225-1414

________________________________________________

GIVEAWAY!!

We are hosting a giveaway on our Facebook page that will close on Friday, January 20th @ 5:00 pm (MST).  If you would like to enter to win the documentary and a miniature version of the lion head ornament found on the ZCMI city facade go to our Facebook page, like us and make a comment on our posting about the release of the documentary give away.  We will let you know if you have won and we will ship the package directly to you.

We are also starting a weekly email newsletter.  If you are interested in receiving it please email our marketing team at info@historicalarts.com.

The New Victory Theater - New York City, NY - Post Lamp

In 1995 the Victory Theater began a new life.  After 95 years of active use on 42^nd street in New York City hosting all types of theatrical performances this theater was completely renovated. Originally built by Oscar Hammerstein in 1900, the theater was described in his own words as the ‘perfect parlor theater…a drawing room of the dramatic dedicated to the best in dramatic and lyric art’.  The architect. J. B. McElfatrick designed the building with a beautiful Venetian façade, with an exterior two-story grand entrance staircase rising from the sidewalk.  The building also had ornate high plaster ceilings with gilded angels.  McElfatrick was especially proud of his large cast and wrought iron lamppost positioned at the entrance of the theater.

When it came time to restore the light fixtures the restoration architects signed Historical Arts & Casting to do the work.  Most of the original fixtures were missing and what was not gone was in a serious state of disrepair.  The fixtures had to be completely rebuilt requiring new patterns and tooling.  Over the course of nine months the restoration of the elaborate exterior fixtures was completed, with some of the interior lighting restored as well.  Timed to coincide with the rest of the restoration, the project was ready for the dedication December 11, 1995.

Design Cutsheet – LF095 Post Lamp

Los Angeles Central Library - Zodiac Chandelier

The Los Angeles Central Library was renovated and expanded in the mid 1990’s for the California Library System following arson’s fire. Historical Arts & Casting was selected to restore and replicate over 500 light fixtures including a grand chandelier for the main rotunda.  Many fixtures had to be recreated utilizing historical photographs.  Some unique challenges were encountered with this project including the development of various finishes and the manufacturing of hundred of large hand-blown glass pieces of traditional horn and opal glass.  The design team and shop replicated the traditional finishes of the period. A bigger challenge, the glass, required putting together a team of glass blowers from all over the country and flying them to a hundred year old glass factory in New Jersey.  For five weeks straight, they worked on blowing the 600 pieces of glass required for the project.  They project was beautifully crafted and a tremendous success for the Los Angeles Central Library.

Grand Central Terminal - New York, NY

When Beyer Blinder Belle was restoring the Grand Central Terminal for the Metro North Railroad in New York City, they turned to Historical Arts & Casting.  They needed assistance with the restoration of the unique chandeliers, which hung in the grand main terminal and waiting rooms.  The project required the removal and restoration of thirteen chandeliers, weighing several thousand pounds each.  There were numerous challenges to the project revolving logistics and working with battling local unions.  The chandeliers were dismantled, cataloged and carefully packaged in the field, then shipped to our Utah facility for restoration.  Further dismantling and cleaning in the shop revealed that the fixtures were originally plated with nickel and gold, which was redone.  Historical Arts & Casting was able to develop and install new uplighting and sound systems for the fixtures, appearing to be original.  Re-installation of the chandeliers required the elaborate staging and rigging to maneuver and relocate the delicate, heavy fixture.  This project was completed on time and within the project budget.

Light Fixtures - St. George Tabernacle, St. George, Utah

The St. George Tabernacle was one of the early architectural treasures in Utah’s pioneer history.  The building was built in the 1860’s and quickly became the center of pioneer life for the small rural community.  With the ability to seat 1200 people, many town and community meetings were held there.  The craftsmanship was exquisite with much of the work being performed by European immigrants. Thought built during a trying time for the new Mormon settlement, the tabernacle had a clock from England and many refinements including six beautiful oil chandeliers.

In 1992 a major restoration took place restoring much of the building and bringing it back to its original configuration.  Historical Arts & Casting recreated the chandeliers, long since removed for more modern lighting, from historic photos.  The replica chandeliers were built to look like the original fixtures with oil wells and glass chimneys.  The fixtures were manufactured in cast aluminum to match historical fixtures from the period.  The tabernacle now stands as ‘the jewel of the desert’, the most beautiful red stone building in the west.

Below you will find some of the information they presented regarding metal types and their properties.

Aluminum:

Aluminum and aluminum alloys are lightweight, non-ferrous metals with good corrosion resistance, ductility, and strength. Aluminum is relatively easy to fabricate by forming, machining, or welding. This metal is a good electrical and thermal conductor. Aluminum is also useful as an alloying element in steel and titanium alloys.  Aluminum alloys are versatile metals with applications in almost every industrial and commercial segment.

Cobalt:

Cobalt and cobalt alloys are non-ferrous magnetic alloys with high strength and toughness, excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance, and high temperature strength. Cobalt can also be magnetized. Cobalt’s properties result in the use of cobalt alloys in jet engine super-alloy components, prosthetic devices, magnets, and cutting tool binders. Cobalt is a useful alloying element in tool, maraging, and other alloy steels.

Copper/Brass/Bronze Alloys:

Copper and copper alloys are non-ferrous metals with excellent electrical and thermal conductivity as well as good corrosion resistance, ductility and strength. Copper alloys are relatively easy to fabricate by forming, casting, or machining. Pure copper is more difficult to weld, cast, or machine. Brass, tin bronze, leaded brass, beryllium copper, and zirconium copper are examples of copper alloys. Copper is useful as an alloying element in aluminum alloys and powder metal based iron alloys.  Copper is a versatile metal with applications in many industrial and commercial segments. Copper’s high electrical conductivity (100% IACS) makes it extremely useful in electrical and electronic applications.

Ferrous/Iron Based:

Ferrous metals and alloys are based on iron. This category includes carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, cast iron, maraging steel, and other specialty iron-based alloys.

Alloy Steel:

Alloy steels are ferrous alloys based on iron, carbon, and high to low levels of alloying elements such as chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and nickel. Alloy steels include hardenable high alloy steels, high strength low alloy steels, maraging steel, and other specialty steel alloys.  Steel alloys are used in a wide variety of applications in almost every industrial segment. Low alloy steels can be fabricated easily by machining, forming, casting, and welding.

Stainless Steel:

Stainless steels are highly corrosion resistant, ferrous alloys that contain chromium and/or nickel additions. There are three basic types of products: austenitic stainless steels, ferritic and martensitic stainless steels, and specialty stainless steels and iron superalloys.

Austenitic stainless steels (AISI 300 / 200 Series) are highly corrosion resistant, ferrous alloys that contain chromium and nickel or manganese additions. Generally, austenitic stainless steels are more corrosion resistant than ferritic or martensitic stainless steels. Annealed austenitic stainless steels are non-magnetic. Cold working is used to harden austenitic stainless steels because these alloys do not respond to conventional quench and temper hardening processes.

Ferritic and martensitic stainless steels are highly corrosion resistant, ferrous alloys that contain chromium and/or carbon additions. Ferritic stainless steels are soft, easy to form metal alloys. Cold working is used to harden ferritic stainless steels because these alloys do not respond to conventional quench and temper hardening processes. Ferritic stainless steels are formed to fabricate mufflers and other sheet metal components that require good corrosion resistance. Martensitic stainless steels can be hardened by a conventional quench and temper operation. Martensitic stainless steels are used for knife blades, tooling, or other applications that require good corrosion resistance combined with higher hardness and wear resistance.

Specialty stainless steels and iron superalloys are highly corrosion resistant, ferrous alloys containing chromium, nickel, or other alloying additions to provide high strength or heat resistance. Duplex and precipitation hardening stainless steels belong in this category.

Tool Steel:

Tool steels are wear resistant, ferrous alloys based on iron and carbon with high levels of alloying (hardenability and property modifying) elements such as chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium. Specific tool steel grades are available for die or cold work, hot work, high speed, and shock resistance applications. Tool steel alloys are used in a wide variety of applications that require wear resistance. They are difficult to fabricate in their hardened form and are usually EDM-machined or ground to achieve the tolerances required for tooling applications. EDM is an acronym for electrical discharge machining; this is a process that can cut small or odd-shaped angles, intricate contours, and cavities in extremely hard steels and exotic metals.

Nickel Alloy:

Nickel and nickel alloys are non-ferrous metals with high strength and toughness, excellent corrosion resistance, and superior elevated temperature properties. Nickel can also be magnetized. Nickel’s properties result in the use of nickel alloys in jet engine super-alloy components, corrosion resistant chemical process equipment (valves, piping, and pumps), magnets and electrical resistance alloys, and heating elements. Nickel is also a useful alloying element in stainless, tool, maraging, and other alloy steels.

Noble/Precious Metals:

Noble and precious metal alloys such as silver, gold, platinum, and palladium alloys are extremely resistant to corrosion and oxidation. Noble and precious metal alloys are used in electrical contacts, electronic connectors, chemical process components, catalysts, jewelry, and other specialized applications.

Non-Ferrous:

Non-ferrous metals and alloys are not based on iron and include alloys of aluminum, copper, titanium, zinc, nickel, cobalt, magnesium, tungsten, molybdenum, precious metals, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, refractory metals, as well as many other metals and alloys.

Magnesium:

Magnesium and magnesium alloys are non-ferrous metals with low density (relatively high strength to weight ratio), good ductility, moderate strength, and good corrosion resistance. Magnesium and magnesium alloys are used in a variety of industries as well as in aircraft, marine, and power tool applications.

Refractory/Reactive:

Refractory and reactive metals include boron (B), tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb) / columbium (Cb), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), thorium (Th), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), rhenium ( ), and titanium (Ti).

Refractory metals and alloys are metals with melting points above ~1750 C (~ 32000 F).  Refractory metals include tungsten tantalum, molybdenum, niobium, and zirconium. Refractory metals are used in high temperature, structural, electrical, and other specialty applications.

Reactive metals combine readily with oxygen at elevated temperatures to form very stable oxides. Titanium, zirconium, and beryllium are considered reactive metals. Finely divided reactive metals can react explosively with oxygen and are often added to rocket fuels or combustible mixtures. A highly stable oxide film formed on the alloy surface provides protection against further oxidization or corrosion at low to moderate temperatures.  Reactive metals can become embrittled if there is too much interstitial absorption into the lattice of oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

Rare Earth:

Metals or alloys are based on elements from the rare earth elements group.

Titanium:

Titanium and titanium alloys are non-ferrous metals with excellent corrosion resistance, good fatigue properties, and a high strength-to-weight ratio. Titanium’s properties result in the use of titanium and titanium alloys in aircraft or airframe parts, jet engine super-alloy components, corrosion resistant chemical process equipment (valves, piping, and pumps), prostheses or medical devices, and marine equipment.

White/Low Melting (Tin, Lead):

Lead, tin, and white metals are low melting non-ferrous metals and alloys. Lead and white metal alloys are used as solders, battery electrodes, bearing liners, decorative products, and coatings. They are also used in other specialized applications. Indium, tin, lead, and antimony are used to manufacture semiconductors.

Zinc:

Zinc and zinc alloys are moderately low melting, non-ferrous alloys widely used in the production of die cast components.

Specialty/Other Alloy:

This refers to other unlisted, specialty or proprietary metals or alloy grades. These materials are based on a unique composition or alloy system, use a novel processing technology, or have properties designed for specific applications.

Blaustein/Fava Fruit Building - Baltimore MD - Cast Iron Restoration

The Fava Building, located in Baltimore’s inner harbor district, was originally built in 1869 and clad with a beautiful cast iron façade. After over 100 years of service, the façade desperately needed to be restored. In the early 1970’s Historical Arts & Casting’s expertise was called into play. After traveling to the project and performing a preliminary assessment, it was determined that a major restoration was needed and not just a ‘cosmetic face lift’. The owner was very concerned about preserving Baltimore’s architectural heritage but due to budgetary constraints, could not proceed with the project at that time. The façade was cataloged, dismantled and placed in storage until 1994. The restoration of this façade was more complex than most because the configuration was changed from a flat front façade to a stepped-back or saw tooth design. In addition to restoring the existing metalwork, Historical Arts & Casting also had to create patterns and tooling for the additional bays and corner conditions. The seamless connection between the restoration of the existing facade and the new material made this a very rewarding project.

Grand Opera House - Wilmington, DE - Cast Iron Facade Restoration

On July 1, 1973 a festive parade led by a high school marching band and government leaders kicked off the restoration of the Grand Opera House (GOH) façade that was once the jewel of downtown Wilmington. The GOH searched the country to find architects capable of overseeing their new revitalization project.  They found Baird architects, in Salt Lake City, and signed a contract with GOH to provide their area of cast iron restoration.

The GOH was built and funded as part of the Masonic Temple in 1871. It quickly  became an object of civic pride showcasing Victorian grandeur and architecture. By 1968, after many stages of use, the GOH stood abandoned and neglected in the midst of the city.

Steven Baird,  preservation and cast-iron expert, had worked on a similar building in his native Salt Lake City.  He had refined the techniques of working with cast-iron and was thrilled to be awarded his first major cast-iron restoration project outside of Utah.  The first floor exterior of the restoration was completed for Wilmington’s  bi-centennial celebration in 1976.

Ten years later in 1986, Historical Arts and Casting received a curtain call to finish the restoration and painting of the GOH from the second floor to the roof. The project took two years to complete, restoring this beautiful Victorian theatre to a   place of prominence and culture in this Delaware community.