Rubbing detail of ornament on front of tower at second floor of the Chemistry Laboratory, Rice University

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Date

ca. 1912-1950

Abstract

This rubbing is part of a series that showcases architectural elements.

Description

Rubbing detail of an ornament intended to appear on the front of one of the William M. Rice Institute’s Chemistry Building’s towers, at the second-story level. The drawing is extremely detailed and shows a medallion with a variety of alchemical symbols, including various from ancient Egypt, as well as heraldic devices with symbols such as a rampant lion and a double-headed eagle. The motto circumscribing the medallion is in Latin and reads ‘visita interior terra rectificando invenies occultum lapidem’, which translates as ‘visit the interior of the earth, and by rectifying (correcting or purifying) what you find there, you will discover the hidden stone’. Written in the lower right-hand corner: ‘Ornament on front of tower at 2nd Story, Marked "Y" on Small Blue Print Sheet, Rice Institute Chemistry Building, Cram & Ferguson, and W.M. Ward Watkin Architects, Sheet no. 64.’ Original resource is a pencil-trace drawing.

Citation

"Rubbing detail of ornament on front of tower at second floor of the Chemistry Laboratory, Rice University." (1912 and 1950) Rice University: https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70981.

Keyword

Places; Rice University--History; William M. Rice Institute. Chemistry Building; William M. Rice Institute--History; Architecture--Details; More... Architectural drawing--Texas--Houston; Cram and Ferguson; Watkin, William Ward, 1886-1952; Rubbing--Texas--Houston; Alchemy in art; Signs and symbols--Texas--Houston; Devices (Heraldry)--Texas--Houston; Lions in heraldry--Texas--Houston; Double-headed eagle (Emblem)--Texas--Houston; Egypt

Publisher

Rice University

Citable link to this page

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70981

Rights

Rights to this material belong to Rice University. This digital version is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. Permission to examine physical and digital collection items does not imply permission for publication. Fondren Library’s Woodson Research Center / Special Collections has made these materials available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any uses beyond the spirit of Fair Use require permission from owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. See http://library.rice.edu/guides/publishing-wrc-materials