Samuel Yellin (American, 1884-1940) "Sketch in Iron", A Study for the UGI Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1926

Wrought iron
Apparently unmarked

H: 25 1/2, W: 25, D: 2 3/4 in.

Exhibited

Samuel Yellin, Metalworker, Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 25-May 27, 1983

Literature

Jack Andrews, Samuel Yellin, Metalworker, SkipJack, 1992, p. 38 (for an illustration of the completed gate)

Note

The United Gas Improvement Company was the nation's first public utility holding company. Between 1898 and 1899, their headquarters building was designed by Wilson Brothers and Company and constructed at 1401 Arch Street, Philadelphia, one block north of City Hall. In 1926-7, the firm of Perry, Shaw & Hepburn executed alterations and additions to the structure, and Samuel Yellin was commissioned to design a pair of large wrought iron gates for the building's principal entrance. This iron sketch, contemporary to the commission, matches in design and scale the finished medallions on the UGI Building gates. The UGI building commission is recorded as Job Card #2585 in the Yellin archive.

Provenance

The artist

Thence by descent to Private Collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania