MID-CENTURIA : Art, Design and Decor from the Mid-Century and beyond: May 2011

The Barcardi Buildings

The dominant architecture style of Miami Beach is usually recognized as Art Deco, but there are a few Modernist gems such as the old Bacardi Rum headquarters. The complex located at 2100 Biscayne Blvd, consists of two structures; an 8-story tower built in 1962-63 and a 2-story cantilevered building built in 1973.

The 2-story building, coined the "Jewel Box on a Pedestal", was designed by architect Ignacio Carerra-Justiz of Coral Gables, Florida. The 2nd story cantilevers out 24' from its central core on all sides and is completely wrapped with 1" thick hammered glass mosaic windows. The windows, fashioned after a painting by German artist Johannes Dietz, were produced by stained glass artists Gabriel and Jacques Loire of Chartes, France.

Photo: Adam Mizrahi

Note the signature of ceramic tile muralist Francisco Brennand in the upper left corner. Photo: Mizrahi

Photo: Saikofish

Photo: Jeroen Bosman

Photo: Robin Hill

Photo: Adam Mizrahi

The Loire's- 3 generations of stained glass artists, c . 1989. L to R: Bruno, Jacques, Gabriel, Hervé.

Architect Ignacio Carrera-Justiz, c. 2010. via

The 8-story Bacardi Tower, designed by Cuban architect Enrique H. Gutierrez, was constructed in just over a year and was formally dedicated on January 25, 1964. The north and south facades of the tower are adorned with "azulejo" murals designed by Brazilian artist Francisco Brennand. The murals consist of 28,000 6" x 6" hand painted tiles which were fired in Brazil and hand numbered for proper installation on site. It took over 6 months to complete the installation process alone.

Photo: Adam Mizrahi

Photo: Life Pilgrim

Photo: Dan Macy

Photo: Adam Mizrahi

Brazilian ceramic artist Francisco Brennand (b. 1927). Image via

Clipping about Cuban architect Enrique H. Gutierrez, from Life Magazine, Dec. 10, 1971

Links of Interest:

Go to- Historic designation report on the Bacardi Buildings from the City of Miami, 2009

Go to- Article about the buildings in Dade Heritage Trust's Preservation Today. April 2011, pg 30.

Go to- Video tour of the Bacardi Buildings with Tito Bacardi

Go to- Video of opening of Bacardi's new headquarters in Coral Gables, Florida

Photo sources: Adam Mizrahi, Robin Hill, Saikofish, Jeroen Bosman, Life Pilgrim, Dan Macy

Mosaic Wall Panels

Here is a selection of mid-century mosaic wall panels that I have come across while auction-mining. Enjoy!

Brass bordered mosaic panel, 4' x 1'. via End of History

Geisha girl brass border mosaic on raffia grass ground, 52" x 19". Etsy available at time of post.

Harlequin smalti mosaic by Romanos, 31.5" x 15.75"

Faceless portrait mosaic titled Gabi, by György Hegyi, 79 x 62 cm.

I get the feeling someone may have been inspired? The tapestry is by Ross Littell.

It is pretty obvious that the mosaic artist was inspired by the gravel art piece.

Again these look suspiciously similar. The gravel art is Craftmaster Mosette design 1395-11-X from 1962

Bird mosaic created from Linoleum flooring

Gravel mosaic; no cording is used in the design, so I assume this is a "custom" piece and not from a kit. via

Stanley Stubenberg Hawaiian Illustration

Commercial artist Stanley B. Stubenberg was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 8, 1925. During his career he created illustrations for various hotels and restaurants in Hawaii including; Hilton Hawaiian Village, The Reef Hotel and The Tropics. He also masterfully illustrated the 1965 book, Young Folk's Hawaiian Time. He passed-away in September 2001 in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, he was 79. If you are interested in seeing more of his work, I hear the book Tiki Modern is a good resource; in fact, his art graces it's very cover!