BHB photo by C. Scales
A few days ago I noticed workmen cleaning a rectangular wooden panel that decorates the space above Cranberry’s storefront, at 43 Henry Street. I recognized the design, with a small semicircle at the bottom center and beams radiating from the semicircle to the edges of the rectangle as a motif sometimes called the “English Sunrise.” Some years ago, I bought a
book with that title that had photos of many variations on the theme, not only architectural but on advertising signs, birdcages, business cards, and so on.
The “sunrise” above Cranberry’s is in an art deco style, so and was probably a 1930s or ’40s an early 1980s (thanks, Jimbo) addition to the nineteenth century building. (Reader Ashton questions whether it should be called deco, given its date and “rustic” quality. I maintain that it shows deco influence, and am glad to have reader nabeguy’s support.) After seeing it, I decided to look for other “sunrises” in the Heights.
BHB photo by C. Scales
Some fine examples are found in the form of fanlights above the first floor windows of the beaux-arts Bossert Hotel.
BHB photo by C. Scales
A row of stone reliefs with the “sunrise” motif adorns the neoclassical apartment building at 76 Remsen.
BHB photo by C. Scales
Here it appears as a fanlight above a window on the grand Victorian house at 129 Joralemon. Note the small inward-radiating semicircles at the outer end of each “ray”, imparting a cobweb-like appearance.
BHB photo by C. Scales
Finally, here it is in what may be its most classic manifestation, as a fanlight above what was originally a door before the stoop was removed, on the Georgian revival townhouse at 54 Sidney Place.
Does this count? It’s actually more of a “full” sunrise.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paytonc/3828742839/
My word! (How that for a Brit locution?) I’ve had that book for many years–a delight!
And, yes, when I first moved here, I saw the Cranberry’s sign and thought….well, exactly what Claude did and does about it. And I also felt there was a…disjunction between the sign and the enterprise below.
Glad that it’s being restored, though!
PS, the fact that the sign is made of wood is the koolest part….
hoppy: I love that frieze on the Cranlyn, and will include it when I do my post on art deco in the Heights. It is more of an American sunrise.
AEB: agreed that it being wood is cool.
Art Deco is a very subtle and refined stylistic movement characterized by precise geometry, delicate detail, and flawless craftmanship.
This rustic wooden sunbust dates to circa 1984.
I don’t comment very often but I read the BHB daily and I really appreciate the fact that I learn something new through the Blog with just about every read. Thanks for the beautiful window pix!
@Kim G – aren’t you glad that there’s at least one Brooklyn blog where the people who comment actually have something to say? You know, like you learn something from them and maybe you have something of value to share with them as well?
Thanks Jonas, that true. BH is such an amazing place…it was love at first sight for us. Finding this on line community (BHB) has really helped us settle in. Thanks Everyone!
ashton,
I think you are on the right track, my guess is that Jim incorporated that sunrise design when he opened the store in 1980.
Jim is an avid reader of the blog, maybe he can let us know directly by commenting here.
I am sure that Jim of Cranberry’s installed the sunrise design when he renovated the current store before moving from his original location on Cranberry Street. Please, Jim, do give us your description of the design and how/why it came to be.
What Jim and Mark have done for that stretch of Cranberry Street in the last couple of years is truly wonderful.
Thanks guys!
Talked to Jim on the phone and he said that the signage was there before he got there. Looks like me and AAR got it wrong. I moved into the Heights in 1980 when Cranberries opened at that spot. Can someone enlighten me as to what was there before Cranberries? There may lie the answer. (Is that correct English?) lay, lie??????
As I recall, that was a butcher shop (Sal’s?) way back when but I don’t think they put up the sign, I love the way they incorporated the arch-way motif into the frame above the door to mirror the arc of the sun, as well as the font used for the house number. Very deco-ish.
Here’s a picture from around 1930. Can’t see the signage then.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/27hl85s
Thanks for all your positive response and encouragement and compliments.
Mark & I do take a great deal of pride in our establishments and our love for the neighborhood. Between Mark and I have we have seven children(young Adult)
that were born and raised here and they to have a strong love for the Heights and B’klyn, so our connection goes well beyond business owners. We also, believe it or not do make a few bad calls but we try and correct them ASAP.
Oh Yeah about the sign, It was made by a close friend of mine who specialized in wood creations and design.I think it must of been here for over or close to thirty years. Julian the designer is also a avid sailor so I think his creativity came from all his sunrises on the high seas. Unfortunately, when I had it made I was not aware of Landmarks requirements and therefore don’t have their approval, same as the addition sign over the doorway, they prefer to have the stucco showing instead of the sign. I always wished that they would’ve of seen my good intentions of having the attractive and well kept sign, that I feel has some beauty to it. PS Sal’s Meat Mkt was next to me it then became Marty’s Video, then Marche’, now Bread & Butter. Again thanks for noticing our street and remember we also have Noodle Pudding as our good neighbor. Oh Yeah again before me, it was a coffee shop called
The Upper Crust and before that was a Greek Diner that was owned by a greek immigrant couple named Angelo & Helen Zapantis who relocated there from Old Fulton St. and Cranberry St.when the Cadman Buildings were erected. They were very special people to my family. Hope I answered most of your thoughts.
AAR, accept my apologies. Apparently, we were both correct and I misunderstood Jim on the phone.
Jim thanks for the complete history of the sign and what stores preceded Cranberries. Jim, may I call you jimbo in the future? lol
Hey Jim, Love Cranberries, but $3.75 for an iced coffee? Really? What’s that about?
We have three sizes, that’s the largest
2.50 lowest, It’s about the quality, ice, cup, straw, bag, sugar, labor, storage
overnight, dairy, water bill, electric, rent, insurance, taxes,the labor to order the coffee, the labor taking in delivery’s, also the garbage pick-up and of course my smile HAHA.Also we have a punch card that when filled brings the price down.
Hey GHB thanks for the concern but we will not raise the price. WOW am I too low.
I would recommend taking down that silly wooden sunburst and putting back a proper storefront with a cornice like the neighboring buildings have. It is an illegal sign. The Landmarks Commission would never approve anything like that.
Look at it apart from your nostalgic associations. It is a piece of crap and it looks awful!
Art Deco -in a million years….
ashton, you’re negative comments are becoming about as relevant and useful as your post name…a ton of ash.
Ash- All your negative comments on this blog are starting to get on my nerves…. do something better with your life. It seems as if all youd do is grouch up on the BHB
ashton, your post seems rather unnecessary (in my opinion), feels a bit mean spirited (somewhat like content from last weeks BHB Open Thread). To each his own I guess, but there’s certainly much to be said for an establishment that can survive 30 years providing something of value to the neighborhood. Who knows, maybe that sign has something to do with its success, a cosmic draw, if you will. Cranberries (and its sign) Rocks!
Correction: “Cranberry’s”, not “Cranberries” (thanks Vito). Geez… I’ve only been in there a million times (the cosmic draw I guess!).
The sign reminds me of the sunburst on the old Walking Liberty half dollar (1916 – 1947). Part of me wishes I could have lived back then, when US coinage had hit a high point in design and execution. (My lifetime has been about dead presidents and the firing of the Chief Engraver of the Mint!)
Wooden placards are common whence I hail (Vermont), so the Cranberry’s sign has made me feel at home these last 19 years.