New York City subway tiles
Encyclopedia
Many New York City Subway
stations are decorated with colorful ceramic plaques and tile mosaics. Of these, many take the form of signs, identifying the station's location. Much of this ceramic work was in place when the subway system originally opened on October 27, 1904. Newer work continues to be installed each year, much of it cheerful and fanciful .
The earliest work was done by Heins & LaFarge
(artists George C. Heins and Christopher Grant LaFarge), starting in 1901 and continuing up to 1907. Heins and LaFarge were both relatives of John LaFarge (brother-in-law and son, respectively), a leading stained-glass artisan of the day. They were part of the Arts and Crafts movement
and worked in the Beaux-Arts architecture style, both of which were very much in vogue at the turn of the Twentieth Century. At the time of their hiring they had completed large projects at New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Bronx Zoo
. As well as designing the artistic motifs, Heins & LaFarge also did much of the architectural work that determined the overall appearance of entire subway stations.
They knew what materials would stand up well to heavy-duty cleaning and scrubbing; they worked with the ceramic-producing firms Grueby Faience Company
of Boston and Rookwood Pottery of Cincinnati. Their ceramic artwork includes colorful pictorial motifs relevant to a station's location, for example:
Their bas-reliefs in the subway have been likened to the work of the Italian Renaissance artist Andrea Della Robbia
. Much of their tile work was station-identifying signs to guide passengers. Besides being beautiful, the images are helpful to New York City's large population of non-English speakers and those who can't read. A traveler can be told to "get off at the stop with the picture of a beaver."
As well as pictorial plaques and ceramic signs, Heins and LaFarge designed the running decorative motifs, such as egg-and-dart
patterns, along station ceilings.
(1919) at the station of that name, rather than Heins & LaFarge's beavers and sailing ships. He describes his technique:
Vickers continued to work on subway projects for 36 years, until 1942.
's Gallery Annexhttp://www.mta.info/mta/museum/whatsnew.htm at Grand Central Terminal
during 2007.
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
stations are decorated with colorful ceramic plaques and tile mosaics. Of these, many take the form of signs, identifying the station's location. Much of this ceramic work was in place when the subway system originally opened on October 27, 1904. Newer work continues to be installed each year, much of it cheerful and fanciful .
History
Heins & LaFarge (1901–1907)
Two firms were pioneers in creating this masterful ceramic work.The earliest work was done by Heins & LaFarge
Heins & LaFarge
The New York-based architectural firm of Heins & LaFarge, composed of Philadelphia-born architect George Lewis Heins and Christopher Grant LaFarge - the eldest son of the artist John LaFarge, famous especially for his stained glass panels - were responsible most notably for the original...
(artists George C. Heins and Christopher Grant LaFarge), starting in 1901 and continuing up to 1907. Heins and LaFarge were both relatives of John LaFarge (brother-in-law and son, respectively), a leading stained-glass artisan of the day. They were part of the Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
and worked in the Beaux-Arts architecture style, both of which were very much in vogue at the turn of the Twentieth Century. At the time of their hiring they had completed large projects at New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Bronx Zoo
Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is located in the Bronx borough of New York City, within Bronx Park. It is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, comprising of park lands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows....
. As well as designing the artistic motifs, Heins & LaFarge also did much of the architectural work that determined the overall appearance of entire subway stations.
They knew what materials would stand up well to heavy-duty cleaning and scrubbing; they worked with the ceramic-producing firms Grueby Faience Company
Grueby Faience Company
The Grueby Faience Company, founded in 1894, was an American ceramics company that produced distinctive vases and tiles during America's Arts and Crafts Movement....
of Boston and Rookwood Pottery of Cincinnati. Their ceramic artwork includes colorful pictorial motifs relevant to a station's location, for example:
- The South Ferry loop station is decorated by 15 bas-relief representations of a sailing ship on the water.
- The Astor PlaceAstor Place (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)Astor Place, also called Astor Place – Cooper Union on signs, is a local station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Completed in 1904, it is one of the original twenty-eight stations in the system...
station is decorated with large ceramic beaver emblems, representing the beaver pelts that helped make John Jacob AstorJohn Jacob AstorJohn Jacob Astor , born Johann Jakob Astor, was a German-American business magnate and investor who was the first prominent member of the Astor family and the first multi-millionaire in the United States...
wealthy. - The 116th Street – Columbia University station includes a bas-relief emblem representing nearby Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Their bas-reliefs in the subway have been likened to the work of the Italian Renaissance artist Andrea Della Robbia
Andrea della Robbia
Andrea della Robbia was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, especially in ceramics. He was the son of Marco della Robbia. Andrea della Robbia's uncle, Luca della Robbia, popularized the use of glazed terra-cotta for sculpture...
. Much of their tile work was station-identifying signs to guide passengers. Besides being beautiful, the images are helpful to New York City's large population of non-English speakers and those who can't read. A traveler can be told to "get off at the stop with the picture of a beaver."
As well as pictorial plaques and ceramic signs, Heins and LaFarge designed the running decorative motifs, such as egg-and-dart
Egg-and-dart
Egg-and-dart or Egg-and-tongue is an ornamental device often carved in wood, stone, or plaster quarter-round ovolo mouldings, consisting of an egg-shaped object alternating with an element shaped like an arrow, anchor or dart. Egg-and-dart enrichment of the ovolo molding of the Ionic capital is...
patterns, along station ceilings.
Squire Vickers (1906–1942)
In 1906 Squire J. Vickers, a young architect, was hired. Vickers showed much respect for Heins and LaFarge, but his work consists much more of mosaics; he did not use bas-relief, citing the need for easy cleaning. In his pictorial work, Vickers emphasizes actual buildings as landmarks, such as his colorful depiction of Brooklyn Borough HallBrooklyn Borough Hall
Brooklyn Borough Hall was designed in 1835 by architect Gamaliel King, and constructed under the supervision of superintendent Stephen Haynes. It was completed in 1849 to be used as the City Hall of the City of Brooklyn...
(1919) at the station of that name, rather than Heins & LaFarge's beavers and sailing ships. He describes his technique:
Vickers continued to work on subway projects for 36 years, until 1942.
Exhibition (2007)
Two exhibitions, one celebrating the work of Heins & LaFarge and one for Vickers, were mounted at the New York Transit MuseumNew York Transit Museum
The New York Transit Museum is a museum which displays historical artifacts of the New York City Subway, bus, commuter rail, and bridge and tunnel systems; it is located in a decommissioned Court Street subway station in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of New York City...
's Gallery Annexhttp://www.mta.info/mta/museum/whatsnew.htm at Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
during 2007.
Subway Tiles Today
Several subway stations have new ceramics and mosaics, bringing color and cheer underground.- The 28th Street28th Street (BMT Broadway Line)28th Street is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway, located at 28th Street and Broadway in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan. It is served by the N train at all times and the R train at all times except late nights.This underground station, opened on January 5,...
station on the BMT Broadway LineBMT Broadway LineThe BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United States. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks...
features the fanciful "City Dwellers" mosaic by Mark Hadjipateras http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?108. - The Houston Street station on the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line displays "Platform Diving" by Deborah Brown http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?30
- The 81st Street – Museum of Natural History station on the IND Eighth Avenue LineIND Eighth Avenue LineThe Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway...
has "For Want of a Nail" by the MTA Arts for Transit Design Team http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?17. - The Prince StreetPrince Street (BMT Broadway Line)Prince Street is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the N train at all times and the R train at all times except late nights...
station on the BMT Broadway LineBMT Broadway LineThe BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United States. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks...
shows "Carrying On", an artwork by Janet Zweig http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?99. - The Cathedral Parkway – 110th Street station on the IND Eighth Avenue LineIND Eighth Avenue LineThe Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway...
boasts "Migration" by artist Christopher Wynter http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?25. - The 191st Street station on the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line has been renovated with reproductions of its original tile work.
External links
- MTA Arts for Transit-The Official NYC Subway Art and Rail Art Guide
- Forgotten New York - New Mosaics
- Subway Art Guide
- SubwayCeramics Historically-authentic subway tile
- Stookey, Lee (1994). Subway Ceramics. North Haven, CT: William J. Mack Co.