New York Insurance Company, Berlin

Not to be confused with the New York Equitable Insurance Company at 43 Leipziger Strasse, this building was designed in 1880 by Kayser and von Grossheim and was located farther west, on the corner of Leipziger and Wilhelm Strasse.

Two facades of the palace contained Salviati mosaics of allegorical depictions of cities modeled after cartoons by Otto Lessing. They included: London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, New York, and Rome.

 

Facade detail of the mosaics featuring two cities between windows on the third and fourth levels

Although the building next to it at 125 Leipziger Strasse survived, the New York Insurance Company building was destroyed in World War II. In typical Berlin fashion, it's been replaced by a modern office building.

Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 136.
Grieben-Verlag. Berlin, Potsdam und Umgebungen: Praktischer Wegweiser. 140.
Guide through Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland and England. Berlin: J. Reichmann and Cantor, 1896. 12.
Baedeker, Karl. Northern Germany: as far as the Bavarian and Austrian frontiers. 10th ed. London: Dulau and Co., 1890. 55.
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Kayserzinn Headquarters, Cologne

Located on the corner of 85-87 Hohe Strasse and Bruckenstrasse, this magnificent building contained the Cologne headquarters of metalworkers J.P. Kayser & Sohn. Built 1884-86, it was actually designed by Heinrich Joseph Kayser (of Kayser and Grossheim), the younger brother of tinsmith Engelbert Kayser.

Salviati decorated the facade with mosaics of four periods, infants, and ornaments after cartoons by Otto Lessing.

Much of Cologne was destroyed in World War II, including the Kayser building which was hit in 1943, but the area has since been rebuilt. Containing many shops and leading to Cologne Cathedral, it is now a popular pedestrian area.

Sources:
Baldry, Alfred Lys. Modern Mural Decoration. London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1902. 52.
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collector's Club, 2008. 136.
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