Tag: art deco

The 1938 Hispano-Suiza “Xenia”

by BJM Publishing, posted in classic cars

Some cars are just on another level—so exotic and impressive that they make everything else look ordinary. Most countries are lucky to have even one “legend” to their name. You’ve got the American Duesenberg SJ, Britain’s 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Phantom III, Germany’s supercharged Mercedes SSKL, and France’s massive Bugatti Royale. But then there’s Hispano-Suiza. These cars were in a league of their own. No expenses were spared on their creation ensuring they were the best ever built.

The brand started back in 1901 when a Swiss engineer named Marc Birkigt convinced his Spanish boss, Emilio La Cuadra, to pivot from electric buses to motor cars. The name “Hispano-Suiza” literally means Spanish-Swiss, a nod to the Spanish money and Swiss engineering behind it.

During the 1920’s and ‘30s the company produced the vehicles that established its reputation among the elite of the world’s great motor cars. The H6, which debuted at the 1919 Paris Motor Show is still considered one of the greatest cars ever made.

When the Great Depression hit in the ’30s, most luxury carmakers panicked as their pool of wealthy buyers dried up. But Hispano-Suiza doubled down, refusing to compromise on their huge, powerful, over-the-top designs. While they eventually stopped production in France by 1938, they kept things going in Barcelona until World War II began.

One of the coolest stories from this era involves André Dubonnet, a wealthy heir to the aperitif fortune and race car driver. He commissioned the 1938 “Xenia”—named after his late wife—which is basically the peak of pre-war Art Deco design. It’s a sleek, curvy, one-of-a-kind masterpiece that looks like it’s from another planet. He won a sports car race at Boulogne with it in 1921.

In the end, Hispano-Suiza was a perfect mix of world-class engineering and pure style. Marc Birkigt eventually retired in 1950, and in a fitting twist, the French side of his company ended up merging with Bugatti.

A collage of luxury cars from long ago era

Can you guess the other luxury cars in the above collage? Which is a kit car?

Kitchener’s Art Deco Nereids: A Sparkling Tale

by BJM Publishing, posted in Art

Gather ’round, everyone! Lean in, because I’ve got a tale for you about two of Kitchener’s most famous “ladies” who spent decades looking for a permanent home.

Imagine it’s 1940. A local artist named Helen Waimel Robertson—who was a total rock star in the sculpture world—decides to create something a bit “extra” for the era. She crafts these two stunning Art Deco statues. They aren’t just any statues, though; they’re sea goddesses, or Nereids*, elegantly hitching a ride on the backs of dolphins. *They represent the beauty and goodness of the sea.

Now, here’s the cool part: Helen didn’t just use plain old cement. She mixed in quartz aggregate. So, when the sun hits them just right, they don’t just sit there—they sparkle.

But back in the 1940s, Kitchener was a pretty quiet, conservative place. When a local businessman named Roy Bullas put these “nude” sea nymphs in a fountain outside his furniture store on Charles Street, it caused quite the stir! People weren’t exactly used to seeing mythical goddesses hanging out by the sidewalk. They became a local landmark, but they definitely raised a few eyebrows.

Fast forward about forty years. The wrecking ball arrives! The Bullas store is being torn down to build the downtown bus terminal. For a minute there, it looked like our sparkling goddesses might end up in a scrap heap. Luckily, a local couple, the Kachiks, stepped in like art-world superheroes and saved them from the rubble.

After that, the statues spent a long time hiding away in city storage—basically a dark, dusty basement. It wasn’t until 1998 that they finally got their “happily ever after.” Thanks to some serious persistence from the artist’s sister, the city brought them out of retirement.

Because they’re made of that special sparkling concrete, they couldn’t stay outside forever—the Ontario winters are a bit much for even a sea goddess! So, they were moved into the “refreshment” lobby of the Centre In The Square. Today, they stand there finally dry, warm, and ready to greet everyone coming to see a show.

So, next time you’re in the theatre for a performance, look for the ladies on the dolphins. They’ve survived the 1940s critics, a demolition crew, and years in a storage locker just to sparkle for you!

Note: A sculpture is a three-dimensional work of art. It can be made of stone, metal, clay, or other materials. A statue is an artwork that depicts a person or an animal or part of a person or animal. The terms sculpture and statue are often used interchangeably.