Existing comment:
Spiral Staircases:
Inside the doorway ahead is one of the more interesting aspects of the architecture of the Supreme Court Building; a self supporting, elliptical spiral staircase. It is one of the two identical staircases designed for the building by Cass Gilbert. It is unclear whether Gilbert chose to use this rare form for practical reasons or simply for its exceptional visual beauty.
Construction:
The marble for the staircases was quarried by the Moretti-Harrah Marble Company near Sylacauga, Alabama. The rough blocks were transported to Knoxville, Tennessee, where the Gray-Knox Marble Company finished the stone in their mill. After the steps were cut, the staircase was assembled upside down to make sure that each piece was an exact fit. In a few places, a run of several steps was cut from one piece of marble. After numbering each piece, the staircases were dismantled and shipped to Washington for installation.
Design:
Each of the staircases has 136 steps that complete seven spirals while ascending five stories from the basement to the third floor. The cantilevered design of the staircases eliminates the need for a central support as each step is anchored into the marble wall on one end and rests upon the step below it. The staircases, therefore, are held in place by fit and pressure rather than mortar and steel.
Symbolism:
On each floor's landing, bronze door frames are decorated with neoclassical motifs, including leaves, urns, and anthemia (floral decorations). In addition, four law related themes repeat: a lamp representing knowledge, a book inscribed with "LEX" (Latin for law), and owl symbolizing wisdom, and the Scales of Justice symbolizing impartiality. The bronze railings for the stairs are adorned with a classical wave pattern, rosettes, and oval medallions featuring an eagle, a symbol of the United States. |