Little Brown Church Souvenir on TV News

It’s funny where you might catch a glimpse of a souvenir building. Today, I was watching a local NBC news affiliate story about Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa.  My eyes zeroed in on what was unmistakably a replica of the Little Brown Church over his left shoulder as he sat in this office on Capital Hill. Seems to makes sense as the Senator and Church are both from Iowa - Nashua and Butler County,  respectively. And both places are close to each other. During some research, I also discovered you can now buy on The Little Brown Church in the Vale cast aluminum bank directly from the church’s online store. I’ve also noticed souvenir buildings on TV shows like Mad Men, Heroes, and Cold Case.  Movie sightings include the Lavender Hill Mob.

Now Identified: St. Michael Parish Church in Elizabeth, N.J.

This souvenir building depicting the St. Michael Parish Church building located at 52 Smith St., in Elizabeth, N.J. has now been identified. The book, Monumental Miniatures, has this replica as number 1368 and the location was unidentified. Through some diligent web research, I was able to pinpoint the replica’s location. It stands 3 inches tall with a 3.5 by 1.5 inch base. Inscribed on the base are the dates, ‘1852 – 1952’ and I believe these date commemorate the establishment of the parish in 1852. The building structure itself, however, was not constructed until about 1872 and remains unchanged today. According to this website: “In 1852, about 25 German Catholic families in Elizabeth resolved to form their own parish. After worshiping in a rented room, the parishioners launched an intensive fundraising campaign. A plot of land on Smith Street, near Elizabeth Avenue, was purchased in 1853. A small, simple wooden church was the first permanent home of the fledgling parish-the first German Catholic parish in Union County. Father Albert von Schilgen, in 1870, became pastor of St. Michael Parish. Soon after his arrival, plans were developed for a new church. Land was purchased on the corner of East Jersey and Smith Streets. In all a little over two years, on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, the new church was blessed.”

Basilica at Lourdes Souvenir Replica

I recently acquired this large metal replica of Basilica in Lourdes, France. (see photo above) I love the size (over 13 inches tall) and fine detail in the miniature building. One thing struck me though – it’s not an exact replica of the existing church as it looks today. Missing are the two spires and the large complex in front that includes another church under wide walkways above (Compare to the photos, below, of another large version of the Basilica)  Where the spires would be are two matching

low rectangular structures. Why the difference, I wondered? While researching the building, I came across this fact:  “The exterior is dominated by a 70m spire, and two lesser spires (not completed until 1908).” Could my replica depict and earlier version of the basilica or an early planned design? Might this one show a pre-1908 view of the structure? This difference reminds me of souvenir replicas of Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, Canada. I wrote about how that church’s design changed between 1922 and when it was completed in 1967. As a result, two replicas were made of the same church – The structure as planned and the structure as constructed. My version of the Basilica at Lourdes stands tall atop a rocky hill. On the front of the metal replica is written, “Notre-Dame de Lourdes” and the back, “Propriete V.B.” and “Depose” The real site became a sacred after a girl claimed to have experienced a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The official name for this structure is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and known widely as the "Upper Church."  The Roman Catholic Church and minor basilica within the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, was constructed between 1866 and 1872 and consecrated in 1876, it was the second of the churches to be completed. The church was built on top of the rock above the Grotto and next to the Basilica of our Lady of the Rosary. The elaborate Gothic-style building, designed by architect Hyppolyte Durand, seems to emerge directly from the rock of Massabielle (the sanctuary is directly above the Grotto). Do you have information about these two versions of the Basilica Notre-Dame de Lourdes?

Jamestown Virginia Church Souvenir Building Replica

Back in 2009, reader of this bog and fellow collector, Scott D., wrote an item about his architectural souvenirs from Jamestown, Virginia. He recently found an additional building for his collection from that settlement - the Jamestown Church, seen above. Scott said, "It looks like it is made of lead.  It is 1.5" high and 2.5" long and just over an inch wide." It's painted red, gray and green and has the words, "Jamestown, Va." hand-written on the roof. Nice find, Scott. 

St. Peter's Basilica Souvenir Buildings

With the election of a new Catholic Pope, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica have been in the news a great deal. Miniature replicas of the church have been made over the years for a constant-flow of tourists. From very large to small and created in various materials, souvenir buildings of St. Peter's Basilica have always been popular. Some replicas depict solely the basilica, while others include Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s full Tuscan colonnades of St. Peter’s Square and the four-thousand-year-old Egyptian obelisk in the center. Bernini’s Colonnade design are four-columns deep, which are meant to embrace visitors in "the maternal arms of Mother Church."

Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar Souvenir Building

This unusual antique jewelry box or casket is in the shape of the Basilica in Zaragoza, Spain. Not only is it a rare souvenir building that is not in the Monumental Miniatures book, but it has an unusual feature - It’s on wheels. Hiding under a now-frayed purple satin skirt, the wheels appear to be similar to those of a old model train.  Anyone have an idea of what the purpose of the wheels could be? The miniature metal building replica measures approximately 5-7/8" high by 6-1/2" by 4".  It sold recently on eBay for $270. The seller included a paper that was inside  the box on which was written, “Maqueta Del Farol Que  Representa  El Templo  Del Pilar.”  Which in Spanish means: Scale Model of Lighthouse Temple Del Pilar.  The real Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (simply know as El Pilar) s an important pilgrimage site, thanks to an ancient pillar said to have been given by the Virgin Mary to Saint James at this location. Build in the 16th- and 17th-century, the basilica El Pilar dominats the Zaragoza skyline from its riverside location. Its exterior has a mosque-like style with a large rectangular floor plan and tall corner towers. Each year for 9 days, the Fiestas del Pilar honors Zaragoza's patron saint, the Virgin of the Pillar. Could the wheels be related to the festival? If you have any information about the wheels, help us solve this mystery and share your ideas with us via the comments link below.

Little Brown Church Building Souvenir Replicas

The most common replica of the Little Brown Church is made of cast aluminum, measures 4 1/8" high by 5 1/4" long by 2 1/4" wide and is painted brown ( see photo below). The coin slot is on the top and the coin bank unscrews to remove money. These versions are offered on eBay often. Another, less common version is one made of lead and stands 3 ¼ inches tall by 4 inches long and 1 3/4 inches wide (photo above). On the base are the words, "Little Brown Church” on one side and “paper weight" on the other. Another version is a set of ceramic salt & pepper shakers. According to the real church’s website, “The first settlers came to the Bradford area in 1848 and with an abundant water supply and virgin timber, the town grew. By 1855 the first members of the Puritan-Congregational Church had begun holding meetings. By 1856, Bradford had 500 residents and was the first town in this part of Iowa. By 1860 the foundation was laid for the structure. When it came time to paint the building, the cheapest paint to be found was Ohio Mineral Paint, which would protect the wood but which was unhappily brown. With help from friends in the east, the building was finished, complete with bell, in 1864. The location inspired the hymn "Church in the Wildwood," which references a "Little Brown Church in the Vale."

Boston’s Old South Meeting House

This rare, 19^th century still bank is a replica of the Old South Meeting House in Boston, Massachusetts. Measuring 4” wide by 6 ¼” long by 9 7/8” tall, the coin bank is sometimes called the Old South Church. This one sold on eBay recently for over $4,000. This one still had its original paper label and one side retains part of the paper clock face. Since the 1773 mass protest meetings that led to the Boston Tea Party, the real Old South Meeting House has served as a gathering place for discussion and celebration and a haven for free speech. Built in 1729, the Meeting House was the largest building in the colonial town. In the years immediately preceding the outbreak of the American Revolution, citizens would gather in the Old South Meeting House to debate and argue in the aftermath of events like the Boston Massacre. On the night of December 16, 1773, over 5,000 colonists, angered over the tax on tea, met at Old South and after hours of debate, Samuel Adams gave a secret signal which began the famous Boston Tea Party. During the war, occupying British troops took revenge for the Tea Party by ripping out the church‘s pews and using the building as a riding stable. Today, the Old South Meeting House is open daily as a museum and continues to provide a place for people to meet, discuss and act on important issues of the day.

Magic Lantern Cathedral Replica

This spectacular gothic church souvenir building is also a magic lantern viewer. It sold recently for $ 3,450. The eBay seller of this item thought it might have been a replica of Chartres Cathedral in France. However, I believe it’s just a gothic cathedral design. Do you recognize it as an actual church? It is made of brass, very well detailed and may originally had a very small Cross on top. The base measures 8.24 inches across and 5 inch front to back and is about 8.5 inches tall. A predecessor of the modern slide projector, magic lanterns projected images from hand-painted glass plates well before the invention of photography. Magic lantern owners toured the country and presented their nighttime displays for large audiences in tents, theaters and schools to watch depictions of fables, legends and events. A skilled projectionist could move the slides quickly, making the screen images appear to move.

Jasna Gora Monastery Church

Founded in 1382 by Pauline monks, the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, Poland has one very famous resident. Our Lady of Częstochowa, sometime called the “Black Maddona,” is a icon painting depicting the Mother of God with the Christ Child. A rare vintage lead souvenir building of the Jasna Gora Monastery was made around 1930. The lead building replica has ‘open’ architecture allowing you to see through windows. On the base are the words: "Andenken Aus Warschau" and on the other side: "PAM. Z CZESTOCHOWY" On the front you can see an embossed image of the "Black Madonna." This replica measures 6 3/4 inches high with a 5 1/2 inch base. One sold on eBay recently for $360. The real monastery has been a pilgrimage destination for hundreds of years. Because of this painting, Jasna Góra became Poland's most famous shrine to the Virgin Mary in Poland. Scott D. sent me photos of more souvenir versions including a lamp and miniature of just the church's tower.

Oral Robert University Prayer Tower

Oral Roberts, a famed Pentecostal televangelist, died today at age 91. He leaves behind many things, including a University bearing his name. A gold plastic souvenir replica of the Oral Robert University Prayer Tower stands 4 inches tall. The base has a lead weight on the bottom and is printed with the words, “Abundant Life Prayer Group” with a phone number. The 24-hour-a-day group prays with people via telephone in a room on the observation deck. The Prayer Tower is located on the campus of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 200 ft (60.9 m) glass and steel structure opened in 1967 and offers visitors a heavenly view of the campus. An enclosed observation deck gives a 360° view of the surrounding area and enables a self-guided visual tour of the ORU campus. A visitor center on the ground floor has a gift shop along with showings of a 20-minute multimedia presentation on the history of the university and a 36-minute, faith-oriented presentation about the life of Oral Roberts. The landscaped Ralph L. Reece Memorial Gardens surround the tower base at the Christian university. According to school publicity the tower's form is laden with Christian symbolism. The Prayer Tower is located at the center of campus to symbolize prayer's utmost importance. The disc and spindle design takes on the look of a modern stylized cross from any horizontal bearing. The tower's height is intended to mirror one's relationship with God. The latticework which surrounds the observation deck is reportedly built in part from standard white PVC pipe (with the original specification markings still somewhat visible and is meant as a semi-literal representation of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus on the cross. The tower's tip features an eternal flame representing baptism of the Holy Spirit. The tower is a popular local tourist attraction. A reader commented on this post and said, “At one point back in the mid 90's there was a metal replica available." If you have one of the metal replicas of the Prayer Tower, please send me a photo and I'll publish it here. UPDATE: Mark M. sent me a photo of both the plastic and metal versions (above) The pewter version stands 2.5 inches tall and was made in four separate pieces and then put together to form the Prayer Tower.

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

My friend, Kenny, recently visited Barcelona, so naturally I asked him to check out the gift shop of the Sagrada Familia for any souvenir buildings. Sold in the shop was a partial replica of 5 of the towers, but nothing of the entire structure (which is not yet completed). He did photograph a spectacular metal model of the church which was displayed in the basement museum. He knows of my passion for miniature buildings and joked about breaking the glass, hiding the replica and spiriting it out of Spain for me. However, he feared almost certain arrest, so he resisted the urge. Sigh. Oh well, this will be just another souvenir building that got away. I already own the replica of the 5-tower front. It’s made of cast metal with a silver finish, stands high and is mounted on a marble base. I’ve also seen similar versions made of pewter and without the marble base. The first time I saw Gaudi's architecture in person, I was not sure what to make of it. It certainly is not like anything else I had seen before. What also struck me about Gaudi's architectural style has such a biomorphic appearance utilizing organic shapes.It’s also so ornate and so much happening in the design, I began to wonder if the term "gaudy" was derived from Gaudí due to its over-the-top look. However, it’s not true because the word gaudy dates back to the 16th century. The real Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan name is: Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia; "Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family"), often simply called the Sagrada Família, is a massive, privately-funded Roman Catholic church that has been under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain since 1882. It is not expected to be complete until at least 2026. Considered the master-work of renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), the project's vast scale and idiosyncratic design have made it one of Barcelona's, and Spain's, top tourist attractions for many years. A portion of the building's interior is scheduled to open for public worship and tours by September of 2010. Antoni Gaudí worked on the project for over 40 years and devoted the last 15 years of his life entirely to the endeavor. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked, "My client is not in a hurry." A devoted Catholic, Gaudí abandoned secular work in his later years and devoted his life to Catholicism and Sagrada Família. He designed it to have 18 towers - 12 for the 12 apostles, 4 for the 4 evangelists, one for Mary and one for Jesus. He spent the last few years of his life living in the crypt of the "Sagrada Familia." On 7 June 1926, Gaudí was run over by a tram. Because of his ragged attire and empty pockets, many cab drivers refused to pick him up for fear that he would be unable to pay the fare. He was eventually taken to a pauper's hospital in Barcelona. Nobody recognized the injured artist until his friends found him the next day. When they tried to move him into a nicer hospital, Gaudí refused, reportedly saying "I belong here among the poor." He died three days later on 10 June 1926, at age 73, half of Barcelona mourning his death. He was buried in the midst of La Sagrada Família. After Gaudí's death, work continued under the direction of Domènech Sugranyes until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Parts of the unfinished church and Gaudí's models and workshop were destroyed during the war by Catalan anarchists. The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the lost plans as well as on modern adaptations. Since 1940 the architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada, Lluís Bonet i Gari and Francesc Cardoner have carried on the work. The current director and son of Lluís Bonet, Jordi Bonet i Armengol, has been introducing computers into the design and construction process since the 1980s. Sculptures by J. Busquets, Etsuro Sotoo and the controversial JosepSubirachs decorate the fantastical façades. I was in Barcelona many years ago and visited the Sagrada Familia. I was not collecting souvenir buildings at that time (wish I was), but was already a fan of architecture. My first impression of Gaudi’s work was it looks biological. His designs seem to grow from the earth with flowing lines and biological orbs. What do you think of the Achitect Antoni Gaudí’s work? Do you know of other replicas of his buildings?

The Tomb of Christ

In honor of Easter, fellow Souvenir Building Collector Scott D. researched a building appropriate for today. The Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre (The Tomb of Christ) which is labeled as an “unidentified Jerusalem Church” in the Monumental Miniatures book (#1343). The site is where the New Testament says that Jesus was crucified and is said to also contain the place where Jesus was buried (the sepulchre). The church has been an important pilgrimage destination since at least the 4th century, as the purported site of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Scott Writes, “Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, also called the Church of the Resurrection, sits the Edicule. Constantine’s Edicule, the first of the four "little houses" which have covered and protected the remains of the tomb since its discovery in 325-6. The best evidence how the first Edicule looked like is provided by a replica standing about a foot high, cut in a block of Pyrennean marble, found at Narbonne in south-west France, and dating from the fifth or sixth century AD. Being cut in local marble it cannot be a direct copy of the Edicule in Jerusalem, but must be based on some intermediate copy, probably itself a model rather than a set of drawings. Therefore, it might be considered one of the very first souvenir buildings. Models of it have been found in Cathedrals across Europe and even whole scale replicas. Other souvenirs over the ages have been molded pewter flasks and medallions, the painted lid of a box of relics (found in the Lateran in Rome) and images on pottery and glass where all for the pilgrim trade. Some museums and churches might have small replicas of the Edicule not knowing what it is. The present Edicule is the fourth to be built on the site. The first one was deliberately destroyed in 1009. Crusaders rebuilt it in 1099. It laid in decay till 1555 when the Edicule was rebuilt. The Edicule of 1555, the third in succession, preserved all the essential features of the medieval Edicule it replaced. This is the version that most ancient souvenir models were based off of. A fire in 1808 badly damaged the Edicule and the version we see today was built by a Greek architect who practiced in Constantinople, Nikolaos Komnenos. It is an Ottoman Baroque style Kiosk erected in 1809-1810. The present Edicule has suffered much over the 190 years since it was built. For 40 years, the rains and snows of Jerusalem winters poured down on it through the open eye of the dome immediately above. In 1868, the dome was rebuilt and the opening shielded by a cover. But the damage had been done. Gradually the Edicule settled under the weight of the heavy vaults Komnenos had erected over the two compartments inside the tomb, the Chapel of the Angel and the tomb chamber itself.The British Mandatory authorities were alarmed by the state of the tomb as soon as they arrived in Palestine in 1917. Ronald Storrs, then Military Governor of Jerusalem, at once requested the Latin, Greek, and Armenian patriarchs to suspend the custom of hanging Lenten ornaments on the tomb, as they were accustomed to do under the status quo which governs procedures in the church. Two of the patriarchs agreed, but the third would not, and Storrs wrote laying responsibility "for any possible damage accruing to the sacred structure ..." at the door of the third patriarch. In 1926, alarmed by the open gaps between the bulging stones, the government arranged for an architect, A.C. Holliday, civic advisor to the Pro-Jerusalem Society, (which had been founded by Storrs) to survey the tomb. After lengthy negotiations, the agreement of the religious communities was obtained to the removal of some stones on the north side of the Edicule, so as to allow inspection of the core of the wall. The British were somewhat reassured. Holliday’s report revealed that the Edicule had an inner structure which seemed vertical and sound enough. Only the skin of masonry cladding added in 1809-10 was coming away under the weight of the vaults and upper works. The really important thing which no-one seems to have realized at the time was that this investigation showed that within the 19th-century skin there was an earlier Edicule. Recent discoveries suggest that the remains of several earlier Edicule survive one inside another, like the skins of an onion. The calm wisdom of Holiday’s report was vindicated the following year; when the church was severely damaged in the great earthquake of 1927, the Edicule held fast. For the next 40 years the whole church was a forest of scaffolding. Even to get in, one had to pass under the raking shoring which prevented the Crusader south front from collapsing into the courtyard. For 20 years nothing was done to the Edicule, but in 1947 a survey by a firm of consulting engineers, Freeman, Fox and Partners of London, showed that its "condition must be on the border of instability and reconstruction cannot be safely neglected." In March, 1947, as the last of the Mandate governments many actions in the care of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Public Works Department wrapped the Edicule in a cradle of steel, the girders. And so the Edicule stands today, the holiest shrine of Christendom covered in steel. From time to time small pieces flake off the marble blocks as the pressures shift, and little piles of stone dust can be found around the bases of the spiral columns of the east front. The structure is tottering and it can only be a matter of time before another earth tremor brings it down. Seems the Edicule architecture last, less and less thought the centuries. The first version was around for 600 years before it was destroyed. The Crusader version lasted for 300 years before it was restored. The third Edicule lasted 250 years till it was badly damaged in a fired. The recent Edicule is under 200 years old and needs restoration yet again. Recently, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is going through a restoration agreed upon the 3 religious communities in the church. It may finally be possible to examine the Edicule itself, for its restoration is urgent and cannot be long put off. Here, within all the subsequent stages in the rebuilding of this most sacred of Christian shrines, the remains of the original rock-cut tomb may be found. The current souvenir versions since there have been many versions made of the Edicule over the centuries are made out of pot metal. Most are on wooden bases that are 5 inches long and the top of the model being 4 inches tall. Some of the models have inscribed Jerusalem on them. Hence in the past people thought that this is a church located there. They are half right for it is located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Yet again and again the Edicule model has been produced for the pilgrim trade and will likely continue for centuries to come.” – Scott

Al Farrow’s Architectural Art

The large 3-D metal church replica looked impressive and realistic, but upon closer inspection, you realize it is constructed of guns, bullets and buck shot. Minerettes made of pistols and riffle steeples. I was amazed by the attention details, craftsmanship and artistry of the few pieces I saw on display at a small exhibit of his work at a gallery in Washington, D.C. The self-taught California Artist Al Farrow created the “Reliquaries” series of religious structures composed of guns, gun parts, bullets, steel, glass and bone. The welded sculptures are commentaries on militarism loaded in the histories of the three major religion structures: Synagogues, mosques and churches. A reliquary, also called a shrine, is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing or some object associated with saints or other religious figures. Al Farrow wrote about his work, “As early as the fourth century, the cult of sacred relics was an important part of Christian worship. At that time, the church first promulgated the doctrine which stated that the remains of martyrs and objects associated with Christ, the Virgin and other Saints, possessed miraculous powers. In the later middle ages, churches, monasteries and even private individuals accumulated large collections of relics. Pilgrims traveled the length and breadth of the Christian world to visit shrines, churches and crypts where relics were housed. As a theological importance of relics increased, so did the desire to put them into protective "Containers". The "container" or architecture's physical beauty was thought to enhance the spiritual significance of the venerated objects. Thus, in many ways, reliquaries are among the richest and most imaginative of all church treasures. The earliest take on the form of simple boxes or caskets. Later examples may be complex architectural forms, statuettes or shapes resembling the actual relics enshrined. I am not a gun person," the artist said. "My fascination with guns is with their function and use. It is the ubiquitous presence, seeming necessity and actual accessibility of guns in our culture that inspires my investigation. I am interested in their impact on society and cultures: Past, Present (and Future). About his materials Farrow said, “I do not personally use guns (Except as a medium for making art), so I was amazed at the availability of gun related paraphernalia when I started to accumulate supplies for this body of work. I am also perpetually surprised by the historical and continuing partnership of war and religion. The atrocities committed in acts of war absolutely violate every tenet of religion, yet rarely do religious institutions speak against the violations committed in the name of God. Historically, Popes have even offered eternal salvation to those who fought on their behalf (The crusades, etc.).In my constructed reliquaries, I am playfully employing symbols of war, religion and death in a facade of architectural beauty and harmony. I have allowed my interests in art history, archeology and anthropology to influence the work. The sculptures are an ironic play on the medieval cult of the relic, tomb art, and the seductive nature of objects commissioned and historically employed by those seeking position of power.” See the making of an enormous cathedral replica here. (click through the phases to see the progress). Prices at the exhibit I saw ranged from $9,000 to $85,000. San Francisco’s De Young Museum plans to exhibit Farrow’s work in November, 2008. I recommend checking it out if you are in that area. Do you know of other artists engaged in work the architectural or miniature building themes?