International House -- 2. East Entrance
(This is the second of three postings focused on International House. See the others at West Entrance and South Facade.)
The east entrance to I-House opens on to Blackstone Avenue, just north of 59th Street. This photograph (above) was taken from the east side of Blackstone Avenue and shows the eight carvings, all of which depict some aspect of transportation, that are located within the arch over the entrance.
Details
1. Beginning at the lower left, the first four carvings depict land transportation, beginning with foot travel, through the use of oxen, then horses and, finally, the steam locomotive.
2. From the bottom right, the first three carvings represent water travel, beginning with the canoe, through the sailing ship and to the steam ship. The final carving on the right is of an airship, a biplane viewed flying overhead, from right to left.
That is, indeed, a swastika on the sail of this boat. The swastika was not adopted for the Nazi flag until Hitler's ascent to power in 1933. I-House was built in 1932.
A Latin inscription also can be found above the east entrance arch:
I understand that this can be loosely translated as "No one is wise enough alone."
