While most of you know me for my collection of mid-century Americana, I also love collecting illustrations, books, magazines, and postcards from the Gilded Age. There is a certain romanticism in the hand-colored lithographs of that era that digital photography just can't replicate.
This particular find is a stunning vintage postcard of Bethesda Terrace in Central Park. It captures the "heart of the park" during a time when it was the ultimate social stage for New Yorkers to see and be seen. Looking at those intricate grand staircases and the way the nature was meticulously sculpted to frame the architecture, you can really feel the ambition of 19th-century design.
Olmsted and Vaux designed the Terrace to be the only formal architectural setting in the entire park, intended to contrast with the rugged, "wild" nature of the surrounding landscapes. The Arcade underpass features a magnificent ceiling made of nearly 16,000 encaustic tiles from England's Minton Tile Company. It is the only place in the world where these specific tiles are used for a ceiling rather than a floor. You’ve likely seen this spot in dozens of films and TV shows, most notably in the final scenes of Angels in America, the whimsical musical numbers of Enchanted, and classics like Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The "Angel of the Waters" statue atop the fountain was the only sculpture commissioned as part of the original park design. It commemorates the opening of the Croton Aqueduct in 1842, which finally brought fresh water to the city. If you look closely at the stone carvings on the side walls, they represent the four seasons and the various times of day, featuring birds, plants, and fruit.










