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Olde Good Things

Architectural and Altered Antiques

20 Fun Facts about the Flatiron Building

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stock photo of Flat Iron Building

1. The Flatiron Building is located in Manhattan, New York City. The construction of the Flatiron Building began in 1901 and was completed in 1902, taking approximately a year to finish.

2. Designed by Daniel Burnham, it became an iconic symbol of New York. Daniel Hudson Burnham (1846 – 1912) was an influential American architect and urban planner. He was born in Henderson, New York, and went on to become one of the most prominent architects of his time. Burnham played a major role in the design and planning of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, often referred to as the Chicago World’s Fair. Burnham’s work had a lasting impact on American architecture and urban design. His ideas shaped the aesthetic and functional development of cities across the United States.

3. Positioned at the crossroads of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, the building acquired its unique triangular structure. Its precise address stands at 175 Fifth Avenue, solidifying its place in history.

4. Upon completion, the Flatiron Building stood as one of New York City’s tallest structures. Presently, One World Trade Center, reaching a symbolic height of 1,776 feet, holds the distinction as the city’s tallest building.

5. Initially dubbed the Fuller Building, it bore the name of its proprietor, George A. Fuller, who oversaw its construction and ownership during its early years. The Fuller Building was officially renamed the Flatiron Building in 1899, owing to its distinctive triangular shape resembling a clothes iron, not long before its completion in 1902.

stock photo of Flat Iron Building

6. The utilization of a steel frame in the building’s construction marked a groundbreaking innovation during its era. This structural advancement not only ensured stability but also facilitated the creation of its iconic and unconventional triangular design.

7. The Beaux-Arts architectural style significantly influenced the design of the Flatiron Building. This style’s emphasis on grandeur, classical elements, and intricate detailing can be observed in the building’s ornate façade and overall aesthetic, adding to its timeless allure.

8. The Flatiron Building has attained iconic landmark status through its appearances in diverse films, photographs, and artworks. Its distinct triangular silhouette and historical significance have caused it to earn its place as a celebrated symbol of urban architecture and culture.

9. The building’s slender profile and distinctive design posed challenges in efficiently using its interior space. Architects had to devise innovative solutions to accommodate functional layouts within the constraints of its triangular structure, showcasing their creative adaptability.

10.In 1966, the Flatiron Building earned the designation of a New York City landmark. This recognition underscored its historical and architectural significance, safeguarding its legacy for generations to come.

stock photo of Flat Iron Building

11. A cherished tourist destination, the Flatiron Building embodies New York City’s architectural heritage. Its striking form and historical prominence make it a quintessential symbol of the city’s rich urban legacy, captivating visitors from around the world.  It is among the most photographed buildings in the world.

12. The vibrant Flatiron District, named in honor of the iconic building, has evolved into a lively neighborhood in Manhattan. Characterized by its dynamic atmosphere, diverse businesses, and cultural attractions, it stands as a testament to the building’s enduring influence.

13. Positioned advantageously, the Flatiron Building provides captivating vistas of Madison Square Park. This strategic location enhances its allure, offering both residents and visitors a splendid panorama of the park’s natural beauty and urban surroundings.

14. The building’s unparalleled design has served as a wellspring of inspiration for architects and designers. Its innovative triangular form and groundbreaking construction have ignited creativity, shaping contemporary architectural thought and pushing the boundaries of structural aesthetics.

15. The Flatiron Building’s cultural significance has been enriched through its appearances in television shows and literature. These portrayals in various media forms have contributed to its iconic status, solidifying its place as a cherished symbol of architectural and artistic allure.

stock photo of Flat Iron Building

16. Enduring the trials of the Great Depression and evolving urban landscapes, the Flatiron Building has stood resilient. Its ability to weather these challenges showcases its enduring legacy and resilience in the face of changing times and contexts.

17. The Flatiron Building resonates with the vibrant pulse of New York City. Its distinctive presence symbolizes the city’s dynamic spirit and serves as an architectural embodiment of its lively, ever-moving energy.

18. The exterior of the Flatiron Building is primarily constructed using terracotta, a type of fired clay. This material gives the building its distinctive ornate façade and contributes to its unique appearance and historical charm.

19. To safeguard its historic attributes, the Flatiron Building underwent substantial restoration during the 1990s. More recently, its exterior has undergone meticulous renovation, ensuring the preservation of its architectural significance for current and future generations to appreciate.

20. You have the opportunity to possess a fragment of the Flatiron Building’s history. Olde Good Things obtained a significant collection of salvaged copper window frames from the building’s renovations. These frames have been ingeniously transformed into mirrors, preserving their legacy in a new form. Please view this product online here.

Palace of Dreams: Brooklyn’s Grand Prospect Hall

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Like all dreams with a storyline of gold, grandeur, and infamy that eventually must fade into memory, Brooklyn’s “Palace of Dreams” Grand Prospect Hall leaves behind just a sprinkling of treasures and over a century of glamor, play, and sentimentality for Brooklynites and other patrons.

Drawing of the Grand Prospect Hall

Following the death of its owner Michael Halkias, the Victorian-era entertainment venue sold after a long history of opulence and entertainment.

The building was originally envisioned in 1892 as a “temple of music and amusement” by German immigrant and real estate entrepreneur John Kolle.

Architect Ulrich J. Huberty, known for Prospect Park’s Boathouse, Tennis House, and Litchfield Villa, set to work creating Kolle’s vision. Prospect Hall featured ornate marble and granite, stained glass, opulent crystal chandeliers, a ballroom, and an opera house. The building also housed the first French birdcage elevator in Brooklyn.

In 1900, Prospect Hall was heavily damaged by fire. At the time, the venue included a saloon, bowling alley, and amusement resort. Kohl rebuilt the hall. Prospect Hall was a playground for the elite in this age, who enjoyed high-class vaudeville, masquerade balls, and motion pictures. Prospect Hall was also home to the Crescent Motion Picture Company.

The theater became one of the first production spaces, and Crescent Films produced and distributed short film reels, called nickelodeons. Crescent later morphed into the New York Motion Picture Company, a precursor to Universal Pictures.

The host eventually gave over operations to a son.  Kolle and his wife Bertha raised eight children at the site.

Al Capone visited the Prohibition-era speakeasy at Prospect Hall, allegedly the site of a fight that earned him the nickname “Scarface”. Capone also claimed a balcony box in the ballroom, being disposed toward opera. Other visitors included Mae West, Bob Hope, Sonja Henie, Ginger Rogers, and Fred Astaire.

The White Eagle Society, a Polish immigration association, bought Prospect Hall in 1940. The third and final owners, Michael Halkias and wife Alice, purchased the venue in 1981 and set about restorations. They called it “Grand Prospect Hall”.

Over the years, the hall was a production set for films such as “Prizzi’s Honor,” “The Cotton Club,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums”, photo shoots for Vogue and Macy’s, television shows, and music videos.

Later, an outdoor German Biergarten was added. The site hosted the Big Brooklyn Challah Bake, as well as the annual City of Gods Halloween party, an infamous Burning Man-style rave, and the Zlatne Uste Golden Festival, a Balkan festival that drew thousands.

The pandemic shut down this grand vision of an owner who sought to provide a lavish entertainment venue that embraced the blended American immigrant heritage. Property taxes were the final death knell. The family held an auction that was visited by prominent fans of the building’s legacy, as well as unknown persons who secretly spirited objects away, like the old nickelodeon reels, to private collections.

Olde Good Things brought precious treasures from the iconic palace of dreams to the inventory, to be shared with those who love the history and spirit of these entrepreneurial immigrants who had such big dreams.

Click here to view the treasures available from the Grand Prospect Hall.

How to Shop for Antiques in New York City

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Before shopping for antiques in New York City, it’s important to do research. There are hundreds of antique shops in and around the city, and many of them have inventory that’s not always up to date or accurate.

*You can find information about specific antique dealers and their inventory on sites like eBay and Etsy. These sites have reviews from previous buyers, so you can get a sense of what kind of products you should expect to find at a particular location.

First timers

If you’re a first-time antique shopper, there are a few things you need to know.

First, shopping for antiques in New York City is a unique experience. It’s unlike any other city in the world, so don’t expect it to be like any other city in the world. And that’s a good thing! It means there are tons of great places to buy antiques and lots of different types of shoppers. There are also plenty of tricks in order to get the best deals on your favorite pieces.

If you’re looking for a place to start, here are some tips:

  • Check out some local museums or historical sites. They often have great vintage pieces and local artists’ work available for sale right on site. If you’re lucky, they might even have special events where you can meet with artists or designers and ask questions about their work!
  • Find out what’s happening in the city on any given day and go investigate! You never know when something amazing is going on—and if not, it’ll still give you an excuse to take a break from your search, so you don’t get overwhelmed by everything there is out there waiting for you (and then end up buying something you later regret!).

Do your homework

New York City is a hotbed for antiques, and it’s easy to get lost in the vast array of items for sale. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you navigate your way through the city’s antique shops.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

2. Be prepared to pay

3. Know what you’re looking for

4. Shop around before making a purchase

5. Don’t forget about the flea markets!

But how do you know what’s worth buying? It’s easy: just follow this handy guide.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If something looks like it was made in the late 1800s or early 1900s, but it has a modern finish on it, chances are good that someone just refinished it and didn’t actually have it restored by an expert.

2. Don’t fall in love with anything until after you’ve done your research! Sometimes people will try to pass off fake antiques as real ones because they think they’ll get more money if they can convince someone that the piece is older than it really is. You can avoid this by doing your research beforehand so that when someone tries to sell you something too good to be true (like a chair for $3000 that is actually worth $300).

Make a travel plan

A good place to start is with a Google search for “antiques New York City.” This will give you a list of all the antique shops currently operating in the city, as well as some reviews from past customers. You can also use Google Maps to find antique stores near where you’ll be staying while visiting the city.

Save these two locations New York City antique stores on your google maps.

Olde Good Things Antique Store – Broadway Upper West side

Olde Good Things – Midtown

Next divide the city by borough then by section name, example, Olde Good Thing Broadway is in Manhattan on the Upper West Side. The closer you can group the antique stores the more time you will save.

Recovery of 11 ft Art Deco Pendant Lights at NYC Art Deco Building

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Located in Lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center, one will find 26 Cortlandt Street a highly Art Moderne / Art Deco bank building once home to the East River Savings Bank.  This building designed by Walker & Gillette Architects was built between 1931 to 1934 and was later extended upwards. [ 1 ]

Before the East River Savings Bank was built, the location was the site of the New York City’s Radio Row, which was a cluster of electronics shops that sold radio equipment and parts in the 1920s and 1930s. [3]

In 1933, the aggressively Art Moderne 22-26 Cortlandt Street building was constructed for the East River Savings Bank. The bank was established by attorney John Leveridge in 1848 and lasted over a century and a half before merging with Marine Midland Bank in 1995. [2]

For many years since then, the building has housed the Century 21 Department Store.  After a recent acquisition by new owners, the building is undergoing a massive renovation, making available a small collection of classic Art Deco tubular chandeliers which overall height extends more than 10 feet.

These six arm beauties with molded tubular lites in exemplary Art Deco style give the feel of the Great Gatsby era.  They were carefully retrieved, disassembled and carefully stored.  One is reassembled and on display at OGT’s 52nd Street Flagship showroom, ready to light up the ambiance of another historical venue.  At the time of posting there were three of these lights available exclusively at Olde Good Things.  Refer here to read more and inquire from the web store.

View 1930s Art Deco Bank 11 ft Brass Tube Glass Pendant Light online.

 

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortlandt_Street_(Manhattan)

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Row

3. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-36e5-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

 

OGT mentioned in Architectural Digest

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A mid-1800s New York City brownstone, home to John Leguizamo and his family was prominently featured in the March 2023 edition of Architectural Digest.  John and his wife, Justine purchased the building in 2008 with the goal of maintaining the original beauty and structure of the building while also creating a space that could be passed down to their children. 1 The team worked together as designer and foreman and the building underwent an extensive renovation in just one year.  This was quite a feat since originally it was divided into 3 apartments and in need of much restoration.  Inside the brownstone, they have since filled the space with antiques which they have collected over time, creating an eclectic feel. The renovation included redoing all the plumbing and floors, as well as removing a giant black porcelain tub that had been placed in the middle of one of the apartments. John purchased a salvaged antique white gray marble veined mantel at the time from OGT and restored it for his primary bedroom bath. This mantel was also an original NYC artifact, salvaged from a brownstone at 53rd Street and 2nd Avenue.

This is a similar style mantel that he purchased from us, but not exact one.Read the full article here – Inside Actor John Leguizamo’s New York City Brownstone, an Antique Lover’s Paradise

Shop all our marble mantels

Sources:

  1. “We like things that are quality, that we can pass on to our kids,” says John. “There’s something beautiful about hanging on to things that have a history…. We like the eclectic feel.” ↩ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/inside-actor-john-leguizamos-new-york-city-brownstone-an-antique-lovers-paradise

 

 

OGT featured on Fox 5 New York

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We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Fox 5 NY for the new segment featuring our 52nd St, Midtown NY store. Fox5 reporter Cristal Young received a New York history store tour by the store manager, Jim DiGiacoma. Some pieces shown were salvaged from The Plaza Hotel, JFK International Airport, and Waldorf Astoria, New York.

OGT featured in Architectural Digest – March 2021

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Thank you to Architectural Digest for featuring OGT in their article “A Fascinating Look at the Waldorf Astoria’s Destruction and Rebirth”. We are truly honored to take part in the preserving of rich pieces from famed New York City architecture as well as American history.

Read the article: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/waldorf-astorias-destruction-rebirth

Wedding Season with Intricate Gifts from Waldorf Astoria NYC

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June is wedding season, and if you are feeling helpless or overwhelmed with what to gift the bride and groom, you can trust Olde Good Things to have just the thing. Consider a classic piece recovered from the Waldorf Astoria NYC. These treasures combine history, functionality, and beauty for the newlywed’s home space.

 

Waldorf Astoria Fortessa Bone China Demitasse Gift Set

A modern Fortessa bone china demitasse set in white recovered from the Waldorf Astoria towers is a stunning gift for the happy couple to unwrap. This piece inspires a combination of class and history for dinners, parties, or romantic tête-à-tête. The set includes a tray, cups, saucers, and spoons, along with a Waldorf Astoria Certificate of Authenticity. Dimensions and specs can be found here.

 

 

Waldorf Astoria Modern Sambonet Butter Knife Set

A stylish set of dinnerware is an integral part of every wedding package, but this original Waldorf Astoria stainless steel butter knife set takes imagination to another level. Complete with a Certificate of Authenticity, this wedding flatware set adds flair and quality to the traditional silverware wedding gift. A decorative bow is available in red or white.

 

Waldorf Astoria Art Deco Silver Plated & Glass Water Pitcher – Sold Out

 

A Waldorf Astoria glass pitcher is perfect for serving cool drinks in summer or for daily use in-home or office and makes a perfect summer wedding gift. This clear pitcher with classic Art Deco silver-plated frame and handle is a beautiful accent piece in any room. These unused pitchers designed by D.W. Haber and Sons and salvaged from Waldorf Astoria towers are solid, functional, and elegant.

 

Waldorf Astoria Modern Fortessa China Creamer Sugar Bowl Set

A Waldorf Astoria NYC ceramic gift set with vitrified china creamer, sugar bowl, and a plate is another unique wedding gift that is both functional and aesthetic. This set is available in classic white and includes the Waldorf Astoria card of authenticity. A Fortessa cream and sugar bowl makes an impression alone or paired with any of the other recovered treasures from Waldorf Astoria NYC.

 

Four Piece Silver Plated Waldorf Astoria Tea Set

This singular silver tea set with teapot, sugar bowl, milk pourer, and a tray is original to the Waldorf Astoria Towers and is a memorable, one-of-a-kind rare wedding gift. The set includes a Waldorf Astoria card of authenticity and items are stamped D.W. Haber & Son, NY.

A limited amount of these sets are available for purchase for your unique wedding gift. Contact us at Olde Good Things today for more information on these or any of our other recovered treasures.

The Friends and Faces of Olde Good Things

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Just a few weeks ago we held our Grand Opening event for our newly relocated flagship store at 333 W. 52nd Street.  Considering all things, with the present economic situation, the event brought a great turn-out, with many faces and friends of OGT.

Gregory Singer, founder and music director of the Manhattan Symphonie, provided musical entertainment during the 3-day event.  He coupled with some friends to provide a variety of lighthearted tunes, from Americana to Italian Classics.  We were delighted to have him.

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Many people loved the lion and engaged in the Instagram promotion receiving 25% off just for posting a picture of themselves with the OGT Lion Mascot in front of our store.

Besides the lion Mascot, you couldn’t miss the OGT T-Rex who stands in the front welcoming all passers-by.

Many of our knowledgeable OGT salespeople are on board to help the customers with any and all questions.  We also have trusty help from Flores, who has faithfully worked with us in the setup and installation of architectural pieces for many years.  Flores offers a wealth of information to customers who have questions concerning the restoration and installation of many olde good things.

 

It seems that the neighborhood is delighted to have us.  This is the first time we have been centrally located in Midtown Manhattan so we hope that many of our friends and previous customers will find us here.  We are presently open for 7 days, with limited hours from 9 am to 5 pm.  We are following the CDC guidelines and limiting the traffic with 6 ft. social distancing and sanitizing stations throughout the store.

The store is chock full of one of a kind, never seen before items.  There’s something for everyone.  We hope you will join us in continuing to celebrate this new location.

 

Come meet the many faces of Olde Good Things!

By the way, Gregory is known to make pop-in visits so you may see him here again and you can hear him play his magical violin.  A note of interest, Gregory recently illustrated and published his first children’s book about a spaceman who helped children wash their hands. Great for these times! Take a look at this link to find out more.

Visit Gregory’s website!

Take a sneak peek inside the store

Olde Good Things