The brothers Charles & Henry Greene, Pasadena architects, developed a unique design vocabulary based on an exquisite hybrid of English Arts & Crafts, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish Revival. Unsurpassed in craftsmanship, their homes are richly woven tapestries, no item has missed their thoughtful touch. Important details to consider for inspiration are square head bolts as seen in their structural iron strapping, cloudlifts, furniture lines, carpets, pegged joinery, brass lanterns, leaded glass windows and of course, the incredible fireplace hoods.
This fireplace hood, a hybrid of the fireplace hoods in the Blacker and Culbertson houses, demonstrates classic Greene & Greene detailing, including the "smoke" repoussé and square head copper rivets, which are custom-machined from solid copper rod for Archive Designs.
"I think C. Sumner Greene's work beautiful; among the best in this country. Like Frank Lloyd Wright the spell of Japan is upon him, he feels the beauty and makes magic from the horizontal line, but there is in his work more tenderness, more subtlety, more self effacement than in Wright's work. It is more refined and has more repose."
--C.R. Ashbee, 1909
Hood with bamboo motíf, in copper.
