City Hall - Table of Contents

Months window jambs - City Hall
Buffalo, NY

Built:

1929-1931

Architect:

Dietel Wade & Jones

Jambs designer:

John Wade,

Jambs sculptor:

Rene P. Chambellan

Jambs material;

Gray Minnesota limestone

Window surround material:

Bronze

Window style:

Casement

Style:

Art Deco

Jamb: One of a pair of vertical posts or pieces forming the sides of a door, window frame, or fireplace

Bas-relief: A sculptural carving, embossing, or casting that projects very little from the background

"Designed by John Wade, sculpted by Rene P. Chambellan, the jambs resemble those at the Nebraska State Capitol." - Jennifer Walkowski, Americanesque: Exploring Modern Civic Identity at Buffalo City Hall, p. 52



Each of the six large casement windows on the first story, starting to the right (north) of the main entrance portico, has a bronze Art Deco geometic surround and an original window bas-relief jamb sculpture representing one of the 12 months of the year.

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January and February



January and February
Left: Portico frieze photos





January and February
[Ed: January: Herald announcing the beginning a new year? Angel?]
January: Janus, Roman god of doors, beginnings, sunset and sunrise, had one face looking forward and one backward

February: On February 15 the Romans celebrated the festival of forgiveness for sins; (februare, Latin to purify), It was not originally included in the Roman calendar which began with March.





January




February


March and April



March and April
[Ed: March: Bellows to indicate the winds of March ... April: Raindrops}
March: Mars, the Roman god of war

April: Roman month Aprilis, perhaps derived from aperire, (Latin to open, as in opening buds and blossoms) or perhaps from Aphrodite, original Greek name of Venus





March


April


May and June


May and June
[Ed: May: pan pipes? ...  June: stylized flowers?]
May: Maia, Roman goddess, mother of Mercury by Jupiter and daughter of Atlas

June: Juno, chief Roman goddess





May


June

July and August


July and August
[Ed: July: Sun]
July: Renamed for Julius Caesar in 44 BC, who was born this month; Quintilis, Latin for fifth month, was the former name (the Roman year began in March rather than January)

August: Formerly Sextilis (sixth month in the Roman calendar); re-named in 8 BC for Augustus Caesar





July


August  


September and October


September and October
[Ed: September: fruits and vegetables harvest ... October: falling leaves]

September: September, (septem, Latin for 7) the seventh month in the Julian or Roman calendar, established in the reign of Julius Caesar

October: Eighth month (octo, Latin for 8) in the Julian (Roman) calendar. The Gregorian calendar instituted by Pope Gregory XIII established January as the first month of the year


September


 October


November and December


November and December
[Ed: November: Snowflakes ...  December: Cronus, Father Time, holding an hourglas to symbolize the end of the year]

November: Ninth Roman month (novem, Latin for 9). Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, skipping 10 days that October, correcting for too many leap years

December: Julian (Roman) year's tenth month (decem, Latin for 10)






November



December



Photos and their arrangement © 2008 Chuck LaChiusa
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