Taste and Tinsel

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 279, 15 February 1928, Page 1

Taste and Tinsel

“Gingerbread” Decorations On New Auckland Museum

A s the accompanying photograph will show, some “decorative” work is being affixed to the new War Memorial Museum. A letter to The Sun from a correspondent signing himself “Philip of Philistia,” enters a vigorous protest against what he terms “tinselled gingerbread” being placed on a stately building. He writes: “Although it is now too late to eliminate that pollution of the aesthetic atmosphere of Auckland which has been caused by the University tower, the time is opportune for some enlightened authority to prevent the commission of an equally heinous artistic crime. “For some months many Aucklanders have had hopes that the rising profile of the new museum buildings in the Domain would at last import distinction into our tortured sky-line. "This expectation is now being shattered by the fact that some presumably irresponsible persons (possibly without the knowledge of the archi-

tects) are destroying the dignity and simplicity of the building in question, by affixing to the topmost edge some lengths of a decorative substance which might be confused with tinselled gingerbread. “The general, design of the museum, being what may be described as Americo-Roman, depends for its success upon its proportions, its classic outline, and the harmony of its elements. There were hopes that these features would predominate, but they are being stultified by the addition of this wholly incongruous moulding. “It reminds one forcibly of (a) The edging of a park flower bed; (b) A Victorian picture frame; and (c) The painted tin attachment to the roof of the grandstand at Alexandra Park. “When such an expenditure of money and industry as has been lavished upon this building is vitiated by a crowning error of bad taste (possibly on the part of a builder’s foreman) can we wonder that this splendid city of ours is sometimes called the ‘Queer City of the North?’ “One can only hope that before the last nail has been driven to attach this extraneous abomination, an appeal by the City Beautifying Society (if there is one), by Mr. Baildon, or (if something really has to be done) by the Rev. Jasper Calder, will wipe out what would otherwise for ever be a reproach to our civic pride.”