Figural Building Teapots

On a cold winter day, what’s better than staying indoors and enjoying a hot cup of tea? I noticed some teapots with building designs at a store called World Market. Big Ben, Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal are all represented. I found other teapots with architectural themes as well including a finely made Tower of London teapot and porcelain Guggenheim Museum teapot. I've written before about architecture in the kitchen. 

Wooden Box Replicas of FLW Buildings

The Larkin Administration Building was Frank Lloyd Wright's office building built for the Larkin Company in Buffalo, New York in 1906. Tragically, the real building was demolished in the 1950's. You can own a miniature model of this building hand-crafted from wood. This is not an exact model but an homage to that wonderful building. The top of the box lifts off revealing an inner tray lined with lacewood. This in turn lifts out to uncover two more trays that lift out as well. These two trays are divided so as to suggest the inner atrium in the original building. The last two compartments are in the end sections of the roof. All six compartments are lined with black velvet. A similar replica is made of the Unity Temple, the Frank Lloyd Wright designed church in Oak Park, Illinois. According to the web site, Jay Rogers of Cambridge, Massachusetts, building these building boxes. These remind of the Cigar Humidors made to look like famous buildings or the wooden desk I wrote about previously. 

Sterling Silver Replica of Ben Clock Tower

This English cast sterling silver and silver gilt “Little Ben” is a miniature version of London's most famous clock tower 'Big Ben.' This model has been chased and embellished with panels of silver gilt to reproduce the fine architectural detail of this Gothic style clock tower. Mappin & Webb made this replica in 1983 at a height of 28.5cm or 11.2 inches. The cupola-style top may be removed, allowing access to the battery operated watch / clock face. The white enamel watch / clock dials display black Roman numeral hour markers encircled by a minute marked chapter ring. 

Cincinnati Union Terminal Train Station Bookends by Rookwood Pottery

Finely made bookend replicas of the Cincinnati Union Terminal train station are available. They are not cheap, but are for sale online. The bookends stand 4" high x 6.25" long x 3.25" wide. Made by the well-known ceramic maker, Rookwood pottery, which is also located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1880 by Marie Longworth Nichols, Rookwood pottery's initial work demonstrated an Oriental and European influence. Throughout Rookwood's years they mastered such diverse styles as Victorian, art nouveau, arts and crafts, and art deco. Seems a natural fit that they produce replicas of the stunning art deco style Cincinnati Union Terminal, which now has a new life as the Cincinnati Museum Center. The station opened in 1933 and its rotunda features the largest semi-dome in the western hemisphere, measuring 180 feet wide and 106 feet high. 

2012 London Olympics Architecture souvenirs

The Olympics have become not just the ultimate world-wide athletic competition, but also a showcase for the host city. Many innovative buildings and unusual architecture are constructed for Olympics venues. So far, I've only seen souvenir miniatures of the main Olympic stadium and they are made of resin. You can buy them here. I'm sure we're all hoping that other souvenir building replicas are produced and sold, but I have not seen any as yet. Have you? I've seen many olympic souvenirs being sold, but most few are of interest to building collectors. Great video from BBC gives a tour to some of the Olympic architecture.

Metal Marvel 3D Laser Cut Buildings

I noticed these online, but was a bit skeptical. Yes they are made of metal, but it’s sheet metal and you have to assemble them yourself. The series of Metal Marvel replicas are laser cut out of one flat sheet.

As I have yet to see a nice metal version of the new One World Trade center building under construction in N.Y., I ordered a replica of that one to see what the quality is like. It arrived in an envelope with instructions for assembly. Now, I won’t say a degree in engineering is required to put it together, but it was a bit of a challenge due to the small parts. The instructions say needle-nose pliers are suggested, but I’d say they are required. Basically, you remove the individual parts from the main sheet by moving them back and forth to snap the attachments. Then you carefully fold some pieces and place the tabs into corresponding holes. This process takes patience, and remember to twist the tabs a bit like you would a screw driver to lock them in place rather than try to bend them over. Another word of advice is not to bend any part too many times as it will eventually brake. Overall, I’m happy with the three-dimensional result. It’s a nice looking replica with good detail that fits in well with other souvenir buildings. Metal Marvel makes replicas of a number of buildings and bridges including:

• Metal Marvel 3d Laser Cut New York One World Trade Center Building Model Hobby
• Metal Works Neuschwanstein Castle 3D Laser Cut Model Marvel
• Metal Marvels San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge 3D Laser Cut Models
• Metal Works London Tower Bridge 3D Laser Cut Model Marvel
• Metal Works Arc de Triomphe 3D Laser Cut Model Marvel
• Metal Works Burj Khalifa
• Metal Marvel 3D Laser building

Military Memorial Statue Souvenir Replicas

Memorial Day, an annual federal holiday observed in the U.S. on the last Monday of May. Originally known as Decoration Day, it began when southern ladies organizations and schoolchildren decorated Confederate graves in Richmond and other cities during the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been expanded to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials to honor those who have died in military service and also place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Some of these statues and memorials have been reproduced in miniature. A distinctive memorial on the Gettysburg Battlefield, the Irish Brigade Monument honors three New York Regiments who combined their state appropriations to erect the bronze and granite monument that was dedicated on July 2, 1888. A Limited-edition pewter sculpture stands 5¼" high including the walnut base. A Masonic Civil War Memorial called, “Friend to Friend” has two military figures. Navy memorial statues have been reproduced in Pewter including the Lone Sailor and Homecoming. A solid pewter Minuteman statue on top of square solid walnut base stands 4.5" tall. A large Iwo Jima replica of the famous Arlington, Virginia memorial is available at an online gift shop.  A northern Colorado Veterans Plaza Bronze Maquette Statue replica is for sale in 3 sizes and prices. 

Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus Architecture

Israel’s city of Tel Aviv has the largest collection of buildings built in the Bauhaus architecture style of Germany. Bauhaus architecture flourished in Tel Aviv in the 1930’s because 17 former Bauhaus students worked as architects in the city. The Washington Post wrote about Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus neighborhood. Check out more photos of actual buildings in the city. Bauhaus-style ceramic replicas of Tel Aviv apartment buildings are scaled 1:1000. One example is a miniature of Tel Aviv-Yafo City Hall that measures 1 5/8 inches tall and 3 inches wide and is marked on the bottom with “Typical Local Bauhaus.” The Bauhaus Center’s gift shop still sells some of the miniature replicas and the occasionally show up on eBay.

Texas State History Museum Building Replica

Souvenir replicas of the Texas State History Museum are available from their online gift shop. According to the site, the replica "is made of specially blended stone-like clay that has been air-dried and hand-tinted." It measures 4.5"w x 2"h x 2"d at base. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in downtown Austin, Texas, tells the “Story of Texas.” Also available from the same website are replicas of the Alamo and the Texas State Capitol building.

Architectural Gift Guide

Gift ideas for a fan of architecture can be both easy and difficult. At least there is a theme, but finding the right gift may not always be easy. Check out this etched stainless steel iPhone or mobile device cover with international buildings and architectural theme. Designer Patrick Chirico lives gets inspiration from his neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y. and creates decorator pillows of brownstones and buildings. Keep warm with this a soft Lambs wool skyscraper scarf. A large glass Capitol dome would make a smart center feature to a holiday table. Crate & Barrel’s Milk Chocolate Grahams come in a house-shaped boxes. C&B also offers a “Fish House” an architectural fish habitat for your modern home. Toys are always a good idea for budding architects. I’ve written in the past about holiday gift ideas.

CB2 Architectural Picks

CB2, which stands for Crate & Barrel Two, is currently selling a few items with interest to fans of architecture. The skyline desk organizer is a clean, white panoramic cityscape view to hold pens, pencils and papers. Mini sandstone buildings can take up primary residence on coffee tables, shelves or a desk. A large modern, colorful print of the Brooklyn Bridge makes a dramatic statement. The buyers and designers for CB2 must enjoy edifices, as they have featured building-related items in the past.

New Washington D.C. Souvenir Buildings

Mike and sons from InFocusTech created new souvenir buildings of Washington, D.C. historic structures. Some of which have never been produced as miniature replicas in metal. The Washington National Cathedral had only been reproduced in resin and a sheet-metal version. I don't believe there has ever been a replica of the Old Post Office. Union Station's massive structure is hard to understand until I saw Mike's version.

Eiffel Tower Architectural Model

We interrupt this series of posts about the upcoming SBCS convention in DC with breaking news. Well, 'breaking' as news can get for building collectors. The new Restoration Hardware catalogue came out and wow. Included in the new designs is an 8-foot-tall model of the Eiffel Tower. According to their website, the “…architectural model is comprised of hand-cut pieces that take one artisan nearly 2 months to complete. Crafted of American oak, it is rendered in meticulous detail, from the arched base to the latticework sides and delicate spire. Built in 1889, the original is still the tallest structure in Paris; ours is scaled accordingly.” The price is on the large size at $1745, but this would be the centerpiece to an architectural collection. I wanted to get a good look at this replica and went to a local Restoration Hardware store, but they didn’t have one on display. I reached out to the company and turns out the only one on display at the store in their San Francisco gallery. Collectors in that city should check it out an let me know how it looks. Restoration Hardware is also selling other architectural decorations. The conservatory model has a domed roof and 12 columns. Two types of bookends, the Portico and a set ofGolden Gate bookends.

Souvenir Gift Shops in DC

As the seat of the federal government, Washington, D.C.’s largest industry is paperwork and red tape. The second must be tourism. Especially in the spring and summer, droves of school groups invade the area. These tourists seek out knowledge, culture, history … and souvenirs to take home. However, DC’s souvenir shops are not concentrated like they are in New York City’s Times Square. In Washington, you’ll find gift shops in most museums, art galleries, historic buildings and even some monuments (the Lincoln Memorial has a small shop to the right as you are facing Abe and another downstairs under the great seated statesman.) The offerings in these shops vary greatly and many offer unique gifts that are related to and can only be found in that location. Other tourist-frequented areas also have general gift shops such as the downtown area, Union Station, the Old Post Office pavilion and others. There are also many street venders sprinkled around the National Mall selling everything from food to tee shirts to miniature buildings. One of my favorite gift shops is located at 15^th and G streets NW, just 2 blocks from the White House. They sell all the items you’d expect including souvenir buildings, but they also offer more, which makes it worth a visit. We hope to include a stop here after the SBCS convention’s White House tour. Historical presidential items and DVDs of presidential bloopers are also sold. One of the highlights of the store is the replica of the Resolute Desk. For a small fee or if you make a purchase, you can sit at the desk for a photo. The hidden door opens just like the famous image of John-John playing while his father, JKF, worked at the desk. A few other interesting items that I first saw at this shop I've found online as well. Arrive in style to your next black tie dinner with United States Capitol Cufflinks in the shape of the Capitol. Your next party could be a hit with a large glass CAPITAL DOMED CAKE PLATE.

Empire State Building Bank

So that’s why King Kong climbed to the top of the Empire State Building…to rob the place of coins. This metal King Kong Bank catches the furry fugitive in the act. The cast metal figural coin bank has a coin slot on the side and bottom trap to get at the cash. The detail is good and it could be a whimsical addition to any building collection.

Chrysler Building Lantern

During a recent brief trip to Manhattan, I stopped into Fishs Eddy. This store sells an unusual mix of new and vintage diner ware and kitchen items. They also had some cast iron Chrysler Building lanterns. With dimensions of 4.75" x 4.75"x 15" they were a good size and priced at $64.95 You can also order online if you can’t get to NYC.

Replica Buildings Blog

InFocusTech has started a blog of their own called Replica Buildings. The prolific souvenir building producers in Pennsylvania plan to write about the company's history and that of the buildings they reproduce in miniature. Mike M. and his sons will feature the souvenir building replicas they produce and the history of the real building on the blog. You can suggest future building models and to see what is coming out next. The site will also conduct private auctions of some of their replicas. Check out their site and see what they're writing about.

Souvenir Buildings at Target

Calling them 'Decorative Figures,' Target stores are selling large metal replicas of some famous landmarks. I happened upon a few of them in the furniture aisle of my local Target and was pleasantly surprised. The Chrysler Building, Eiffel Tower and Big Ben are available in cast polished aluminum and the tallest is 16 inches high. They are for sale in stores and online and range in price from $19 to $34. The detail is not as crisp as I'd like, but its still very good and they look great. The needles on the Eiffel Tower and Chrysler Building replicas are a bit out of proportion, but at least they are not too thin and breakable. Buy two and use them as bookends. My suggestion is get them quickly because there were just a few at the store I went to and who knows how many were produced.

Brooklyn Flea Market Moves

Souvenir Building Collectors now have a chance to find a vintage souvenir replica inside a building of which there is a miniature model. Reader and collector Howie G. sent me this link about the Brooklyn Flea Market which recently moved into the Williamsburgh Savings Bank. Renting 20,000 square feet on the ground floor, the flea market will now be in a classy location unlike many flea's which live in parking lots, empty fields and old dogs. As you may know, a ceramic pen holder desktop replica of this bank's clock tower exists. The replica may have been produced in the 1960's and stands 7.25 inches tall. The white ceramic replica, which has a pen holder attached to the base, depicts just the clock tower portion of the skyscraper. The real Williamsburgh Savings Bank building is now called One Hanson Place. It dominates the area's skyline at 37 stories and 512 feet (156 m) tall. It was built in 1927 by the architectural firm Halsey, McCormack and Helmer in a modernized (Art Deco) Byzantine Romanesque style. The dramatic 63-feet-high vaulted lobby is faced with limestone and marble with mosaics and huge tinted windows containing silhouetted iron cutouts of workers and students. The building also features a gilded copper dome, carved lions, turtles and birds on the exterior, 40-foot windows, elaborate mosaic and two observation decks and clock tower. Despite the grand design and expensive materials, the architect wrote at the time of the building's opening that he wanted the building "to be regarded as a cathedral dedicated to the furtherance of thrift and prosperity." The building was renamed and changed hands many times from the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, then Republic National Bank and HSBC Bank. In 2006, Magic Johnson converted the building to luxury condominiums. In 2008, CJ Follini and Noyack Medical Partners purchased the commercial half of this skyscraper. The building was declared a landmark in 1977. Today, One Hanson Place is renting the former bank lobby space for large events and selling condos. So, you could not only own a souvenir replica of this structure, but also own a piece of the real building by living there. 

Toys and Gifts for Budding Architects

Both adults and children would enjoy MUJI's New York in a Bag which comes with eight wooden city structures and six wooden cars. Included are New York City icons such as MoMA's original 1939 building, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty, and the Guggenheim Museum. With a kit from Matchitecture, you can construct an Eiffel Tower, Matchitecture , the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building and more. Haba is making some wooden blocks for kids in shapes such as a Coliseum Set, Haba Russian House and a Haba Mayan Temple. Lego is making replicas of famous buildings including: Lego Architecture Series Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, Lego Architecture Series Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Lego Architecture Series Seattle Space Needle and more. Here’s info about other architectural games. Do you know of other architectural toys? If so, send me the information and I can add it to this gift guide post.