Greetings all. Does anyone know why geese are so prominent in the ground level decoration - especially the brasswork - of the Chanin Building?

• ID# 45.2 (reply to #45.1) - 9 Jul 1998
  Maybe it was a reference to the (forthcoming) Disney figure Gladstone Gander, to represent Irwin Chanin's luck in gathering his fortunes -- or maybe to the golden eggs...? ;^) ED.

• ID# 45.3 (reply to #45.1)
  From: nate ([email protected]) - 2 Mar 1999

  According to "New York 1930", I quote:
  At street level, Sloan's massing was complemented by a decorative program created by Rene Chambellan, the architectural sculptor, and Jaques L. Delamarre, the head of the Chanin Company's architecure department. Above the shop fronts sheathed in bronze and black Belgian marble, a bronze frieze narrated the story of evolution, beginning with the lower marine forms and then bursting forth with fish and birds.
  - Stern, Gilmartin & Mellins.
  Why Evolution? And, Did evolution end with Geese?

• ID# 45.4 (reply to #45.1)
  From: bob perrone - 31 May 2005

  My grandfather is Rene Paul Chambellan and in reading his personal notes and markings in his sketchbook and on photos of the molds the idea of the Chanin building having evolutionary themes culminates when the work outside and inside the building is taken as a whole. Inside there are numerous plaques showing the struggles and triumphs of man over nature and himself.

  • ID# 45.5 (reply to #45.4)
    From: Jim Patterson ([email protected]) - 17 Aug 2005

    Bob, I am fascinated by the eight sculptured reliefs by Rene Paul Chambellan inside the Chanin Building. I have not been in NYC to see and photograph these, and I have only seen varied photos of the reliefs. Do you know of any book or web site that shows all eight of these magnificient pieces (that represent "The City of Opportunity" and "The Active Life of the Individual")?? I would be monstrously appreciative! And.... has anyone everpublished a book on his life and works?
    Many thanks, Jim Patterson

  • ID# 45.6 (reply to #45.4)
    From: Marge K ([email protected]) - 13 January 2006

    To Bob Perrone - I believe I have one of the plaster castings of Chambellan sculpture that are at Rockefeller Center - and know where there are several others of the set. I would like to see photos to possibly identify them. Hope to hear from you..
    margeK, Bergen Co. NJ

    • ID# 45.7 (reply to #45.6)
      From: bob perrone ([email protected]) - 14 January 2006

      Hi Marjorie, I have written you an email message regarding you possibly having access to Rene Chambellan plaster casts and I am posting this reply just to cover all the bases. I am confident that I can identify the casts in question. Please let me know if you can email a photo to start off the process. We can then meet each other and I can examine the others that you have access to in person. With the amount of documentary photos and the sketchbook I have access to (that I am using for the biography I am writing) I can certainly identify any of my grandfather's works.