But in the late 1960s, the architect Edward Vason Jones began to bedazzle the State Department’s eighth floor with cornices, columns, coffers and gilding.
And as before, every art piece, every gold flake, every carpet thread was donated or paid for by private funders.
An opulent new book called “America’s Collection: The Art & Architecture of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the U.S. Department of State” (Rizzoli/Electa) tells this story in pictures of frumpy interiors turned into glittering set pieces.
The rooms, which have been closed for renovations and updating, preserving their antique character, as the State Department building itself is re-roofed, will reopen Sept. 26.
Members of the public can book visits at iipstate.my.site.com and can explore the rooms online in a self-guided virtual tour.
Persons:
Edward Vason Jones, Francis Scott Key’s, Allan Greenberg
Organizations:
State, Sears, Roebuck, U.S . Department of State ”, State Department
Locations:
Paris, iipstate.my.site.com