1000 Van Ness
Tenderloin
Flanking the doorway of the Cadillac building are two spirally-fluted columns with Ionic capitals, each topped by a bear seated on its haunches. According to the Smithsonian, these were also done by Jo Mora.
I have been unable to find any other attribution, and while they are in terra cotta, they have always felt to me as though they were an after thought to the building.
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However, I was able to find this photo at the San Francisco Public Library that was taken in 1928 that clearly shows the bears, and as the building was built in 1921, I must assume they were a part of the original design.
Comments
4 responses to “Jo Mora’s California Bears”
The bear is so cute!
Very interesting Cindy. Have you ever written about the sculptures that grace the City Hall entrance on the Van Ness side? Years ago I did a couple of ink drawings w/water color washes. I’ve always been curious about these guys.
They are friendly-looking bears! Still so nicely detailed like the rest of the building.
they look rather cute!