#luc17

(This is the first of three postings focused on International House.  See the others at West Entrance and East Entrance.)

International House (I-House) is located between Blackstone and Dorchester Avenues at 59th Street, on the University of Chicago campus.  This photograph was taken from the Midway Plaisance, near the south west corner, at the intersection of Dorchester Avenue and 59th Street.

Look up at this relief, positioned above the main (south) entrance to International House.  The four figures join right hands at the center of what appears to be a compass rose, representing peoples from the four corners of the earth and providing an apt symbol for I-House.  

Relief Details:  (clockwise, from upper left).   

These four, somewhat rough -- that is, the sculpted stone has not been smoothed --  human figures  may have details intended to suggest their respective origins. 

1.  This figure wears what appears to be a scarf, perhaps an indication of an origin in the colder climates of North America.  

2.  A cape draped over the left arm of this figure may be intended to suggest an old-world, European genesis.

3.  Is this figure wearing a turban?  This may be intended to suggest the Middle East, South Asia and even Northern Africa

4. A short, bolero-style jacket and a sash may be intended to suggest South America.  

You can see other sculpted ornaments on the south facade, but they hardly seem to warrant inclusion here.  There is one exception, however, which can be found below:

This high-relief sculpture is notably more detailed and 'smoothed' than are any of the other ornaments on I-House.   But, if this, and its position  -- more or less at the middle of the south facade -- are intended to give it a special significance, the sculpture itself does not make that significance particularly clear.  In any event, the figure on the bottom left appears to be a dog, To its left is a somewhat crudely rendered lion.  Above these figures are a monkey, on the left and a vulture on the right.  A human figure rests astride the top branches of what appears to be a grape-like vine.