Since the time of ancient Rome, architects, engineers, and builders have struggled with the problem of building domed ceilings over large spaces. No one was more skilled at this than the Rafael Guastavino family, a father and son team of Spanish immigrants who oversaw the construction of thousands of spectacular thin-tile vaults across the United States between the 1880s and the 1950s. This long overdue first monograph features archival images, drawings, and beautiful new color photography showcasing the most incredible Guastavino vaulted spaces. An extensive appendix lists the addresses of all known extant Guastavino vaults, over six hundred masterpieces small and large.

Preface

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER ONE

MEDITERRANEAN ORIGINS

CHAPTER TWO

TOWARD THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1881-92

CHAPTER THREE

THE sUCCESS OF THE GUASTAVINO COMPANY, 1893-1908

CHAPTER FOUR

RAFAEL GUASTAVINO JR. AND THE MATURE COMPANY, 1909-29

CHAPTER FIVE

REASONS FOR SUCCESS

CHAPTER SIX

THE DECLINE OF GUASTAVINO VAULTING, 1930-62

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE LEGACY OF THE GUASTAVINO COMPANY

APPENDICES

Selected List of Extant Buildings with Guastavino Tile Vaulting

Notes

Selected Bibliography

Index

Illustration Credits