#dolobran

[ukdamo]

Today's Flickr photo with the most hits is a recent upload, taken on the last morning of my stay at Dolobran Quaker Meeting House cottage. The inquisitive sheep gathered in the trackway to see what I was doing up so early!

[theinwardlight]

From Lewis Benson, remarks from a conference on the early Quaker message and mission

Photo of Dolobran Quaker Meeting House, Wales UK

[furnesque]

Interlocking Tile Patent No. 527,961(current classification 52/590.1 ; 52/311.2; D25/159) Philadelphia, PA 1894

In 1894 Frank Furness filed for and received this patent along with David H. Watts of the Philadelphia based Sharpless & Watts ornamental tile firm. At the time Furness was working on a commission to design the interiors of the American Line ships "St. Louis" and "St. Paul" from Clement A. Griscom whose house "Dolobran" (here and here) he also designed.

From the U.S. Patent Application:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK FURNESS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO DAVID H. WATTS, OF THE SAME PLACE.

TILE FLOOR, WALL, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,961, dated October 23, 1894. Application filed March 31, 1894, Serial No. 505,914. (No specimens)

To all whom it may concern:     Be it known that I, Frank Furness, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Tile Floors, Walls, &c., of which the following is a specification.     The object of my invention is to prevent tile floors from cracking or opening at the joints because of tension or compression strains.     My invention relates particularly to the tiling of floors and decks of vessels, and especially the floors of ocean steam-ships; but it will be understood that my tiling can be used in other places without departing from my invention.     In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a plan review of a portion of a floor illustrating the preferred form of the tiles, in which one tile interlocks directly with another. Fig.2, is a view showing my improved tile interlocked indirectly through the medium of key tiles. Fig.3, is a perspective view of one of the tiles detached. Figs.4, 5 and 6, are views illustrating different forms of my improved tile.     Referring particularly to Figs.1 and 3, A is the tile made of yielding material, preferably rubber, of such a density that it will hold its own under ordinary circumstances, but will yield sufficiently when great strain is placed upon it, or will yield under pressure. The tile is quadrangular in shape in the present instance and at each side are cavities "a" with receding sides forming at each corner undercut arrowhead projections "b". Interlocking with these tiles "A" as shown in Fig.1, are tiles "D" having undercut projections "d" at each side which lock into the cavities "a" of the tiles "A", so that when the tiles are placed in position on the floor and properly cemented, the entire floor of tiles is interlocked so that any expansion or contraction will be taken by the entire floor, preventing the tiles from parting on the division lines.     In Fig.2 I have shown the tiles "A" locked together by key blocks "B", which are so shaped that they will fit into the recesses of the tiles "A" as shown, thus locking the several tiles together.     In Fig.4, I have shown a tile "A" having rounded cavities to which are adapted rounded projections on adjoining tiles or key blocks.     In Fig.5, I have shown a tile having cavities with square corners, and in Fig.6 I have shown triangular tiles locked together.     It will be understood that any form of lock may be used to unite the tiles, but I have used shown a dove tailed lock as the preferred form.     By the use of the above described tile, a floor can be laid or a wall or ceiling tiled which will yield sufficiently under tension or contraction without the joints between the tiles opening, as all the tiles are locked together.     The great advantage of using a tile of rubber in place of the ordinary strip rubber is that ornamental designs can be worked out upon the floor by the use of different colored tiles and the floor can be repaired in the event of one or more of the tiles being destroyed or badly injured.     In some instances the tiles may be laid in combination with unyielding tiles, either of pottery or other material, so that while the yielding tiles will expand and contract with the strains, the joints between the tiles will not open; but I prefer to lay a floor entirely with yielding tiles.     I claim as my invention--     A tiled floor or wall composed of a series of tiles of yielding material, said tiles having interlocking tongues, and being removable, substantially as described,     In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.                           Frank Furness       Witnesses:          Joseph H. Klein,          Frank Bechtold.

[furnesque]

“Dolobran”, Clement A. Griscom House Haverford, PA 1881

Here are some mostly interior shots of “Dolobran”, the country estate of Clement A. Griscom. I posted about it here earlier.

[furnesque]

"Dolobran", Clement A. Griscom House Haverford, PA 1881

"Dolobran" was the country estate of Clement A. Griscom, president of the International Navigation Company and a director of both the U.S. Steel Company and the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was designed by Frank Furness in 1881 and altered by him in 1894.

From "Dolobran" by Mark Freeman in County Lines, 1/30/2012:

 Once inside the entrance (where a plaque notes its listing on the National Register of Historic Places), you’ll arrive in a reception hall where the walls and ceiling are covered with elaborately carved oak. The hand-carved fireplace mantel and surrounding wall are covered with scenes from Shakespeare plays.

 Furness, known for using contrast in his work, put large pieces of Delft tile amid the expanse of dark wood, and the delicately painted scenes in the tiles glow blue and white like shafts of sunlight in a seaside grotto. The tiles were a gift to Griscom from the queen of the Netherlands, meant to thank him after one of his ships came to the aid of a Dutch ship that was sinking.

 From the reception hall, ornately carved pocket doors open on a large living room. Opposite the door is a fireplace with a dark marble surround and calla lilies—a Furness signature motif—carved into the wooden mantel supports. Oak wainscoting extends outward from the fireplace.

 But the most eye-catching feature in the room is the ceiling, where peacocks done in Asian scroll-painting style attract the eye with their large size and charm it with their delicacy.

 The ceiling painting was done on canvas, and is held in place with crisscrossing oak beams that Waldman says were once painted black. The source of the paintings is a mystery, but Griscom had a son who served as a diplomat in Japan, eventually becoming ambassador. It’s believed he may have found the paintings there.

From Rural Pennsylvania in the vicinity of Philadelphia by Rev. S.F. Hotchkin:

 "DOLOBRAN"—The country-seat of Clement A. Griscom, Esq., is about half a mile northeast from Haverford Station, Pennsylvania Railroad, and comprises somewhat more than eighty acres, of a rolling, uneven nature, the larger portion of the land sloping generally toward the northward, and eastward to a stream of water which flows through the tract in an easterly direction. The tract is nearly rectangular in shape. The southwestern portion is gently rolling, and has been appropriated for a lawn, through which the carriage road winds to the residence past beds of beautiful variegated plants and flowers, clumps of evergreens, etc. Close by the residence is the upper end of a heavily wooded ravine, extending to the stream of water: a woodland walk has been made in this ravine, which is so closed in by trees and shrubbery that one could easily imagine himself following a path in the forest: here and there along this walk are rustic benches and "crow-nests" for those who would rest a while. At the bottom of this walk we come out to the stream near a large lake, where there are facilities for boating and bathing. Near the head of the ravine just described, and near the mansion house is a flower garden devoted exclusively to Japanese plants.

 The northern portion of the estate is naturally much rougher, and splendidly adapted by nature to the purpose to which Mr. Griscom has devoted about thirty acres of this section, namely, as an "American Wild Garden." Besides being originally heavily wooded, innumerable native American trees, plants, and flowers were brought from all sections of the country. Two or three old stone quarries in this tract have been utilized to make forest pools, in which are many varieties of beautiful water lilies and other water-growing flowers and plants: while rhododendrons and ferns abound along the shores of the pools and on the outcropping ledges of the cliffs. Throughout this tract woodland paths wind in every direction, along which the pedestrian can catch a glimpse of shaded pools, wooded glens and nooks, mossy banks of rivulets, and such pretty bits of nature, and the paths are of a  length that traversing all of them without going along the same one twice makes one feel that he had had plenty of exercise for the time.

 From the porch of the house one might imagine that the residence was the only  building on the property, so thoroughly do the near-by tree growths hide the usual  buildings of a country place. but it is only a walk of a minute or two through the trees to a finely-appointed stable, in which is kept  a number of blooded horses for riding and driving, and not far off is a large  greenhouse for the growth of many kinds of flowers, and hotbeds for early vegetable delicacies for the table.

 On the eastern edge of the estate is an attractive cottage occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Bettle. Mrs. Bettle being Mr. Griscom's daughter; and at the foot of the lawn slopping to the eastward from the mansion house is another cottage in which reside Mr. Griscom's son, Rodman E. Griscom, and his wife.

 The portion of the estate lying on either side of the brook, which runs through the estate, is chiefly used for grazing, and here may be seen a fine herd of Guernsey cattle, and a flock of Shropshire sheep. Here are also located the buildings for the farmer, the dairy, etc., of special interest to the members of the well-known "Farmers Club," of which organization Mr. Griscom is one.