Samuel Yellin (American, b. Ukraine, 1884-1940) Rare and Important "Sketch in Iron", a Study Panel for a Door for the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency, New York, circa 1928

Wrought iron, chased and repoussé decoration
Stamped signature: "SAMUEL YELLIN"

H: 16, W: 13, D: 2 3/8 in.

Note

The present lot is a study for a panel, part of a repoussè door designed by Samuel Yellin for the office of John Broadus Watson, Vice President of the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency in New York in 1929. For the completed door, seventeen repoussè panels were made, each depicting "The Old Art of Printing", including papermaking, bookbinding, and printing. The only other door of related design, depicting the art of metalworking, was made by the Yellin shop for their Arch Street, Philadelphia forge and offices. The completed door related to the present lot was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is on display within the Arthur K. Watson Reference Room of the Thomas J. Watson Library. The picture of the full door and detail were taken at Yellin’s forge in 1928 prior to delivery and installation.

We are grateful to Clare Yellin for her review and assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.

Exhibited

Samuel Yellin, Metalworker, Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 25-May 27, 1983; Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany, New York, January 20-February 19, 1984; Oglebay Institute Mansion Museum, Wheeling, West Virginia, April 6-June 1, 1984; The Hyde Collection, Glens Fails, New York, July 19-September 2, 1984; Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island, September 20-October 21, 1984; Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, New York, November 9-December 1984.

Literature

Mindell Dubansky, "A Book Arts Door by Samuel Yellin", The Metropolitan Museum of Art, August 9, 2017, blog post, https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/in-circulation/2017/samuel-yellin

Provenance

Property from the Personal Collection of Samuel Yellin