Monday, February 28, 2011

stained glass on 14th -- vanished

This lovely stained glass window once provided a view to the world from one of the City's most beautiful old hotels. Located at the corner of 7th Avenue and 14th, this was a foremost Chelsea hotel at the turn of the century. The window was demolished about a year ago, though you can still make out the outline of the old hotel from the street. Block by block site Songlines cites a different history: "Stained glass can be seen here as a remnant of a long-vanished Victorian saloon."

16 comments:

Oakland Daily Photo said...

I'm truly shocked that the window wasn't removed prior to the demolition. I'll bet all kinds of beautiful interior woods and flourishes weren't mined either. Such a waste.

Birdman said...

I agree amazing that it wasn't removed. I do like colors here of the fire escape against the glass.

Lori Skoog said...

I'm with the rest of the crew...why would they NOT save this window???

Did you get a lot of rain at your place today?

Michelle said...

I like the contrast of that dignified stained glass against the rusty iron. What a waste that it wasn't saved.

Ilse said...

Sad but lovely contrasts...

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Clever framing and processing ...

Cesc Sales said...

I can imagine the old years...

Leif Hagen said...

Looks like a real beauty protected behind all that rusty steel!

Roseann said...

But the Chelsea Hotel is not painted Yellow-Orange, is it? I thought it was kind of Brick Redish........

Virginia said...

It is a beauty. Great shot KM>
V

Folkways Note Book said...

A piece of human artistry destroyed. Sad. But you have the photo capturing the contrasting colors, linear lines and comparative chaos -- great photo -- barbara

Banjo52 said...

Well, it's a change from neon.

Curlykale said...

A terrible shame. Stained glass is not mere illumination; it has a proud working history.

The whole things sounds like a frame-up to me.

Leslie D. said...

Love the mix of colors and textures here. The delicate and the steel. Wow..great one Ken

nycstylelittlecannoli said...

just gorgeous..stained glass is so beautiful! lovely photo!!

Andrew Gardner said...

So sad, this was above the Donut Pub, right?
I'm thinking that this building and the one on the corner would have been one building at one point, with the whole building encompassing the hotel, right?

I moved to Chelsea in the mid 70s, I see to remember a Spanish restaurant at the corner, then a Gyro place a few years later.