Custom Design
Edward F. Caldwell and Co. worked with architects like Stanford White and John Russell Pope to design fixtures that harmonized with a building’s design. Their designs were informed by the trend of the time mostly for historic styles. Though often custom, anything designed by the firm could be remade at any time for multiple clients.
CHANDELIER DESIGNS
EDWARD F. CALDWELL & CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, 1902-1911
GRAPHITE ON PAPER
LOAN COURTESY OF CALDWELL FAMILY
It is likely that Edward Caldwell drew these designs himself. They appear to be preliminary sketches from which detailed working plans would be created.
SCONCE BACKPLATE
EDWARD F. CALDWELL & CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, 1910-1911
CAST BRONZE
NATIONAL SOCIETY DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
This sconce has been dissembled to show the complexity of fitting various parts together. Note the number “2” stamped just below the series of three holes where the arms originally connected. Since everything was hand-fitted to a specific fixture, numbering kept the parts from getting mixed up. One of a set, it originally adorned the genealogy library currently housing the DAR genealogists’ office.
DRAWING OF A SCONCE
IMAGE COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
A drawing of the completed sconce. Though originally introduced in the 1890s, this is a 1950s drawing likely done for a client. Throughout the modernist period, Caldwell continued making classical designs for established clients well into the 1950s.
ORDER BOOKS
Records of orders were placed in ledger books. Simple line drawings accompanied each order along with the client’s name or a notation that it was for the showroom. Finish type, number of sockets, parts, and custom changes could also be included.
DETAIL FROM ORDER BOOKS
E.F. CALDWELL & CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
SMITHSONIAN LIBRARIES, COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
Occasionally, the artist could not help but add a bit of humor to a drawing as seen in this detail. Look carefully; the goddess on the top sports a top hat and smokes a cigarette.
DETAIL FROM ORDER BOOKS
E.F. CALDWELL & CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
SMITHSONIAN LIBRARIES, COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
DETAIL FROM ORDER BOOKS
E.F. CALDWELL & CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
SMITHSONIAN LIBRARIES, COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
DETAIL FROM ORDER BOOKS
E.F. CALDWELL & CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
SMITHSONIAN LIBRARIES, COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
PRESENTATION DRAWINGS
A team of artists prepared detailed presentation drawings like these for clients. Though the artists rarely received credit for their work, a few were described in later interviews of former employees as exceptional, like Mr. Linder and John Lanber. Another artist, “Gary” described as of Spanish descent, was one of many talented immigrants who worked for the firm.
PRESENTATION DRAWING OF CHANDELIERS AND A CEILING FIXTURE FOR THE MAYA THEATER, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
E.F. CALDWELL & CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, 1927-1930
PAPER, INK, & WATERCOLOR
LOAN COURTESY OF SMITHSONIAN LIBRARIES, COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
PRESENTATION DRAWING OF CHANDELIER
E.F. CALDWELL & CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, 1927
PAPER, INK, & WATERCOLOR
LOAN COURTESY OF SMITHSONIAN LIBRARIES, COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
PRESENTATION DRAWING OF CHANDELIER
E.F. CALDWELL & CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, 1930
PAPER, INK, & WATERCOLOR
LOAN COURTESY OF SMITHSONIAN LIBRARIES, COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
PRESENTATION DRAWING OF CHANDELIER
E.F. CALDWELL &CO.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
PAPER, INK, & WATERCOLOR
LOAN COURTESY OF SMITHSONIAN LIBRARIES, COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
Heretofore, fixtures were commonly designed in the factory drafting room; salesmen sold them according to the fancy of the architect or builder, from illustrated catalogs.
Caldwell originated the idea of studying the plans of the architect and decorator, then CREATING CUSTOMMADE FIXTURES TO HARMONIZE AND ILLUMINATE AT THE SAME TIME.
— A MOST ILLUMINATING 50 YEARS: THE STORY OF EDWD. F. CALDWELL & CO., INC.
