Spiral, Interwoven Spiral, Rod & Ball (Stick & Ball), Rope & Ball, Spindle & Ball, Carved, Scrolled, Paneled, Jig-sawn, and Columned Components

Transoms, Entry Grilles, Room Dividers,
Show Window Screens,
Moorish/Oriental Interior Rooms & Bays,
More

This is a fine reproduction of the c.1899 Buffalo Grille Company catalog. The Buffalo Grille Company had its beginning in 1888 when the D.E. Morgan & Son Company, which was in the carpet and drapery business, established the Morgan Furniture Company. The new company manufactured decorative woodwork, grilles, art furniture, screens, mantels, and all types of fancy millwork.

In 1885, Moses Y. Ransom of Cleveland, Ohio, patented a unique form of grille-making. This system of interwoven spiral moldings is called Moorish fretwork. The C.S. Ransom & Company produced this type of fretwork until it went out of business in around 1898. The manufacturing process for Moorish Fretwork was then brought to the Buffalo Grille Company by Alexander Macintosh, a former Ransom partner.

According to Paul Tucker, an expert in spiral-milled furniture and ornament, many of the spiral-milled wood screens and grilles in this catalog are designed according to the rules ascribed to Moorish design in Owen Jones’ classic Grammar of Ornament. Besides the interwoven spiral technique, grilles in this catalog also incorporate stick & ball, carved and jig-sawn components.

See more catalogs like this in our Buildings & Ornament Department.

We have digitally reproduced and restored our original catalog at an extremely high resolution, and printed the black & white and color pages on heavy archival paper stocks. This is not a photocopy - our methods allow us to retain an unusual image clarity and depth of detail, sometimes limited only by the production values of the original. Some of our fine reproduction catalogs are already in museum research collections.

This reproduction catalog is meant to be a permanent reference. Its true spiral binding, unlike a comb binding, allows this book to remain unharmed when left open at the desired place. The front and back covers are printed on heavy cover stock, protected by sturdy clear vinyl outer covers.