On a recent trip to Indiana we stopped at the Auburn Cord Dusenberg Automobile Museum. It was much more interesting than you might expect for a quilter, so here are some examples of inspiration I found there. I enjoy history and design, so even though I’m not an old car buff, I had a good time at the museum and was somewhat reluctant to leave even after two hours!
First, the museum itself! The building was originally a showroom to which car dealers came in the early 20th Century to be convinced to sell automobiles made by the Cord company. And what a showroom it was! It was huge, and its art deco details have been restored. Here are a few of my favorite examples.
The chandeliers were the first thing I noticed!
Here’s a broader view of just one part of the showroom, showing the detail on the beams, the columns, and the grand staircase. And look at that Italian terrazzo floor!
Museum displays explained that, up until World War II, there was quite a market for American made luxury cars. And I do mean luxury–many of the cars were meant to be driven by a chauffeur! To my surprise, these luxury cars were many different colors. I took these pictures because I liked the color combinations and plan to use them for inspiration.
Then there was a car that belonged to Frank Lloyd Wright, whose work I admire. Mind you, I don’t much admire the man, from what I know about him, but his work was wonderful.
The car is “Cherokee Red”, a favorite color of Wright’s. I investigated and learned that there is more than one Cherokee Red, even within Wright’s work. Here are a couple of references, in case you’re as much a geek as I am (looking at you, Gwen).
Here is an article explaining Wright’s Cherokee Red and including several examples.
And here is an article about the PPG palette now used at Fallingwater. It includes “Fallingwater Red” which is the version of Cherokee red used in that house. I have bookmarked this so I can use the palette for a future quilt!
If you’re in northern Indiana, this museum is worth a visit, even if you aren’t much into cars.
Zippy Quilts 
Thank you for the great pictures! I’m so fond of old cars. They were so distinctive, so unlike cars of today. And the Art Deco period was terrific for its unique designs, wasn’t it?
Gotta love art deco! And the car museum is definitely worth a visit–I was amazed!
Oh, this is rich – in all senses of the word! A tasteful ArtDeco showroom, even the cars add to the decor! I’m not one for chandeliers, but these would grace my home somewhere if I ever had the space for such a delight.
About those floors: were they lino? And – what a great pattern to translate into a modern quilt design.
My Ma (the artist) heard FLW lecture at the Art Institute of Chicago back when she was in fine art/commercial art and graphic design…like she told it: ‘odd little man, but with eye opening ideas, concepts – that work!’
Her childhood home is less than a mile away from the FRANK J BAKER HOUSE that is actually for sale at this time! Anyway, being from Chicago – driving around neighborhoods with ‘his’ homes nestled within was part of our family’s ‘cheap’ excursions.
And, Taliesin West in Scottsdale is a must-see! 🙂
Wow! Who knew you had so many associations with this! I sat next to a woman at the last guild meeting who had just done a tour of FLW houses in Western Pennsylvania. Sounded interesting–I think we’ve only been to Taliesin and Fallingwater, so more to come! Good to hear from you 😀
I like your perspective that there’s something to learn and enjoy in so many different places and spaces. And the color combos are cool!
Thanks. Color combos make me think I should look at more vintage stuff for color inspiration.
What a splendid setting and remarkable cars, of course
Yes, the building was half the fun, but the cars were way more fun than I had expected.
This definitely looks interesting! Like you, I’m not into cars, but I sure appreciate the architecture in that building. And who knew that vintage cars like these weren’t always black? Interesting about Frank Lloyd Wright too. I’ve read a couple books about him, and also like you, really appreciated his work. Several of his homes are in Mason City, Iowa, where I met my husband, and I always liked driving down that street. Though now, I don’t think I’d enjoy living in one of those houses, at least not without some climate-friendly updating.
Yes, I followed the links. (Geek, indeed!) That article from the FLW foundation was very detailed; the author did an amazing job of picking out every variation on the color.
It’s interesting that they think he may have loved that color because of the barn on his family homestead. At the historic ranch I worked at, they had a signature red color on the roofs of the barns, which was probably this Cherokee Red, but we called it George Ranch Red!
I have been to a lot of car museums and I always find design details I love, but I have never been to such a beautiful showroom! I am glad you included the picture of the light fixture; I love it!
Haha. Isn’t it fun to know each other so well just from blogs! Thanks for reading and commenting over the years 😀
Oh my goodness that art deco decor – oh that light! – is amazing! And those cars! Wow they are gorgeous! I too am a big fan of FLW – years ago my brother and I went to Oak Park in Chicago to see some of the houses he designed there. I’d like to see more of his work around around the country someday. That palette will be great for a future quilt.
Ah, yes, that quilt is already being designed in EQ and I’ll start it when I get some time! Hope you get to visit some more houses when you’re next “back east”.
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