University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Theses from the Architecture Program Architecture Program 12-2014 Finding Addison Mizner: His Scrapbook Testimony Suzanne B. Kane ASID Univerisity of Nebraska Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at:http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/archthesis Part of theAmerican Art and Architecture Commons,Architectural History and Criticism Commons,Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons,Interior Architecture Commons, and theUnited States History Commons Kane, Suzanne B. ASID, "Finding Addison Mizner: His Scrapbook Testimony" (2014).Theses from the Architecture Program. 151. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/archthesis/151 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Architecture Program at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses from the Architecture Program by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. FINDING ADDISON MIZNER: HIS SCRAPBOOK TESTIMONY by Suzanne B. Kane A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science Major: Architecture Under the Supervision of Professor Mark Hinchman Lincoln, Nebraska December 2014 FINDING ADDISON MIZNER: HIS SCRAPBOOK TESTIMONY Suzanne Kane, M.S. University of Nebraska, 2014 Adviser: Mark Hinchman Through historic archival research, this study focuses on the works of Florida architect Addison Mizner (1872-1933), credited with bringing Spanish/Mediterranean Revival architecture to Palm Beach, Florida in the early 20th century. This thesis is the first to study the works of Addison Mizner through the perspective of his personal scrapbooks. In a state of advanced deterioration, Mizner’s scrapbooks are currently housed in Society of the Four Arts, King Library in Palm Beach, Florida. While a rare and treasured source of their own accord, the importance of the scrapbooks is elevated by the fact that many of Mizner’s buildings have been demolished, severely altered, or are inaccessible to the public. As a result, it is difficult to experience Mizner’s works first hand through his remaining buildings. The absence of an in-depth study on Mizner’s personal scrapbooks leaves a gap in Mizner scholarship. This research reveals how the Mizner scrapbooks present his mode of thought and design intent, and how they serve as a pictorial narration of the workings of an architect in a very primitive Florida with few resources beyond his own innovations. In addition, this study will show how the scrapbooks refute long-standing views of Mizner’s lack of architectural acumen, a product of Modernism’s mid-century coup. Through the lens of selected scrapbooks, specific focus is also given to his practices in the procurement and reproduction of furniture and architectural details. Considering the fragile nature of the scrapbooks, it is hopeful that this thesis will not only spark a renewed interest in all things Mizner, but will advance an awareness and urgency for continued preservation of this treasured primary source and his remaining buildings. i DEDICATION To Britt and Quinn ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To the University of Nebraska’s College of Architecture and Interior Design, I thank you for your dedication, support, and willingness towards my success in the graduate program. I thank Mark Hinchman for his support and encouragement from the first time I mentioned Addison Mizner’s name over three years ago. When I doubted, he gently convinced me that this was more than a worthy topic and of great interest to those outside of Florida. To Rumiko Handa, I am grateful for her setting me on a successful research path from the start and for asking those rhetorical questions that I needed to hear early on in my graduate career. I thank Betse Gori of the Society of the Four Arts, King Library for sharing the Mizner scrapbooks, and so freely giving her time and even her own desk to accommodate this research. Many thanks to Debi Murray and Nick Golubov of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County for their kind help with the Mizner archives in their care. Enduring thanks goes to my parents for always supporting my endeavors in every imaginable way. To my mother, whose wisdom, intelligence, and tenacity keeps me simultaneously grounded and inspired. To Britt, who always believes in me more than I do, thank you for your patience and endless kindness, unconditionally supporting me no matter what passionate idea I present. And to my 11 year old Minecrafter-extraordinaire, Quinnlan, who energizes me to simply do my best. I give thanks to God for all of these blessings. iii CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: Addison Mizner, Outside of the Architectural Box: An Uncommon Journey of Beginnings And Influences ......................... 9 CHAPTER 2: Spanish/Mediterranean Revival Architecture Introduction .......................................................................................... 14 House Plan ............................................................................................ 16 Architecture........................................................................................... 18 Interiors Design and Furnishings .......................................................... 23 The Rise and Fall in America ............................................................... 27 CHAPTER 3: Mizner’s Palm Beach Introduction ........................................................................................... 34 The Everglades Club ............................................................................. 35 El Mirasol.............................................................................................. 38 Playa Riente .......................................................................................... 42 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 46 CHAPTER 4: Beyond Architecture: Addison Mizner, the Innovator Las Manos Pottery and Mizner Industries ............................................ 48 Woodite ................................................................................................. 52 Conclusion ………………………………………………………….....53 CHAPTER 5: The Mizner Archives: Repositories Introduction ........................................................................................... 54 Historic Society of Palm Beach County ............................................... 55 Society of the Four Arts, King Library ................................................. 57 CHAPTER 6: The Mizner Scrapbooks Introduction ........................................................................................... 58 The Digital ............................................................................................ 62 Spain ..................................................................................................... 70 Gothic: Spain and Beyond .................................................................... 86 Architectural Details ............................................................................. 94 Furnishings .......................................................................................... 107 CHAPTER 7: Conclusion ........................................................................................... 132 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................... 136 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................. 139 . iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. El Mirasol, Palm Beach, Florida 5 2. Addison Mizner, ca. 1920’s 9 3. Watercolor by Addison Mizner 10 4. First Floor Plan, “The Towers”, Palm Beach 17 5. Casa Nana 19 6. Villa Flora 20 7. E.F. Hutton Building, Palm Beach; Mizner Shops, Palm Beach 22 8. Quarry Key Stone Factory, Mizner Industries 22 9. Reproduction Spanish Furniture, Hastings Table Co. 24 10. Casa Florencia 25 11. Mizner’s outdoor furniture line 26 12. Everglades Ballroom 35 13. Everglades Club 36 14. Edward Stotesbury’s “El Mirasol” Estate 38 15. El Mirasol Moorish Cloister 39 16. El Mirasol Living Room 41 17. Playa Riente, Palm Beach, Florida 42 18. Playa Riente, Main entrance hall, north; Main entrance hall, south 44 19. Catedral Escalera del Monumento, Burgos, Spain; Architectural Detail, Mizner scrapbook 44 v 20. Mizner Industries Advertising Brochure 49 21. Mizner Industries Iron Workshop, Palm Beach, Florida 50 22. Villa Mizner Tower Room 51 23. Historical Society of Palm Beach County; King Library 54 24. Palm Beach Court House, 1969; 2004; 2014 56 25. Digitized scrapbook, Grecian-Roman-Italian; Scrapbook Fireplaces and Chimneys, Mizner sketch 59 26. Second floor, King Library, Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach 61 27. Tribute to Stanford White; Stanford White’s Picture Gallery 64 28. Eclectic Collage, Mizner scrapbook Grecian-Roman-Italian 67 29. Mizner sketch, scrapbook Grecian-Roman-Italian 69 30. The Alhambra photos; Tile Stairway, scrapbook Spain and its Colonies, Vol. 1 71 31. Via Mizner alley of shops; Via Mizner courtyard stairway 73 32. Mizner quick sketches, scrapbook Spain and its Colonies, Vol. 1 77 33. Colored World map, scrapbook Spain and its Provinces 79 34. Façade, William Gray Warden house 80 35. Mizner sketch, scrapbook Spain and its Provinces 81 36. Spanish alleyways and countryside, scrapbook Spain and its Provinces 83 37. Index to scrapbook, Spain Vol. III; Perforated photos from souvenir Booklet 85 38. Lagomar Courtyard, Palm Beach, Florida 89 39. Photocard from Galleria Simonetti, scrapbook Gothic 90 vi 40. Belgian Gothic interiors, scrapbook, Gothic; Villa Mizner dining room 93 41. Playa Riente dining room; Davanzati Palace, Florence, Italy 96 42. Assortment of clippings, scrapbook Ceilings, Murals, Paneling, and Doors 97 43. Gothic and Renaissance beamed ceilings, scrapbook Ceilings, Murals, Paneling, and Doors; Woodite catalog, Joseph B. Widener’s estate 99 44. Mizner drawings, scrapbook Ceilings, Murals, Paneling, and Doors 100 45. Mizner sketches of Villa Mizner fireplace 103 46. Villa Mizner fireplace 104 47. Fireplace surround labeled “Satterwhite”, scrapbook Fireplaces and Chimneys; Casa Florencia living room 105 48. Newspaper clipping of wall, Arquillos, Spain, scrapbook Ironwork and Fixtures 108 49. Mizner sketch of iron candle stand, scrapbook Ironworks and Fixtures; Lagomar dining room 111 50. Antique well, Ironwork and Fixtures scrapbook; Mizner Industries reproduction of well 113 51. Collection of Elia Volpi auction catalog 115 52. Musee de Cluny postcard, Furniture scrapbook; Mizner Industries Woodite catalog Gothic coffer 118 53. Mizner clippings of chairs, scrapbook Furniture scrapbook 119 54. Mizner Textile scrapbook 121 55. Mizner Industries Sofa; Fortuny Fabric, Textiles scrapbook 124 56. Tapestries, scrapbook Textiles scrapbook 126