Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Glass bridge and external frieze

Glass bridge and external frieze

1942
Frieze by M Swan, O H Dutton, F MacGowan and O Stein of Beat Brothers

1988
glass bridge by Andrew Andersons

The elevated glass bridge connects the Mitchell and Macquarie Street buildings. From here, the first segment of the frieze that continues along the southern side of the Mitchell Wing can be seen at relatively close range. This series of nine panels carved in sandstone was added to the building in 1942 to reference images found in the Library’s collection.

Carefully selected by the Library’s research team, the scenes are drawn from the religions, philosophies and arts of past civilisations. The first four carvings also represent the birthplaces of the earliest-known written languages: Egypt with the lion, Sumeria with the Assyrian winged bull, China with the warhorse and phoenix, and (obscured by the palm trees) India with guardian peacocks flanking a Tree of Life. The remaining panels can be seen from the paved terrace below, which curves around the skylight of the Glasshouse learning space to connect Macquarie Street to the Domain.

Also visible from the bridge are the extensions made to Parliament House by government architect Andrew Andersons and completed in 1985. Andersons was also the architect of the Library’s Macquarie Street building, completed in 1988.

The Beat Brothers were responsible for other public works such as Government House, Banco Court, Museum of Contemporary Art and restoration at Sydney University. Beat Brothers is still one of Sydney’s leading Stonemasons.

The Glasshouse was a café that has been converted into an education centre for children and adults. Like outside of building, the decorative features in this room have also been inspired by various images from the collection.

The original Mitchell building was constructed of sandstone quarried at Maroubra in southern Sydney. The Maroubra quarry was reopened in 1942 so sandstone could be cut and matched for the extensions.

Friezes, or relief panels, were a popular decorative feature of many cultural institutions built in the early 20th century, particularly in America.