Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
The Serra Retreat Persian carpet. |
Catalog Number |
AH-137 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Description |
The Serra Retreat Persian carpet. This carpet was originally designed by Inez von Hake (upper right) in 1931-32 for May Rindge's mansion on Laudamus Hill. The photo at top left is the only known photo of the intact carpet, although even this one does not show a complete carpet - the fringe tiles have not been laid out here. Existing evidence suggests that the carpet tiles may have been fired after the Potteries burned down in November, 1931; the western end, where the kilns were located, was not affected by the fire. Evidence also suggests the carpet was partially installed (at least some border and fringe tiles) before construction on the mansion ceased. Installation of the carpet continued under the supervision of Michael Braun after the Franciscans bought the mansion in 1942 and converted it to Serra Retreat. The carpet was seriously damaged in the fire of 1970. Some tiles were recovered and stored for possible future use. In the early 1980s, a ceramic artist, Lena Torslow Hansen (bottom figure), was engaged by the Franciscans to suggest ways of using the stockpile of Malibu Potteries tiles that had been stored at the mansion after the Potteries burned down. Many of these had been installed throughout the Retreat by Michael Braun before he died in 1966 (see AH-138), but many remained in the basement and were relatively undamaged by the 1970 fire. Some of the tile installations designed by Hansen are shown in AH-131 (images 1, 3, 6, 8, 13, 18, 23). She also used the surviving carpet tiles to construct a planter and fountain (see AH-122.2) in the lower courtyard. In 1987, Inez von Hake visited Serra Retreat and posed in front of the fountain designed by Lena Hansen, who posed in front of the same fountain in 2012 (bottom). The rocky back face of the fountain was a later addition (see AH-122.2 for original) |
Photographer |
various |
Copyright |
MLM |
Search Terms |
Serra Retreat |
People |
von Hake, Inez Hansen, Lena Torslow |
Status |
Restricted |