N is for Nymphaea Lotus, and Nymphaea Caerulea

Originally I was going to write a post about Nirosta, a metal alloy developed in Germany, its name being a German acronym meaning non-rusting steel, its anti-corrosive qualities coming from its 18% chrome content. It was used in the Chrysler Building in New York, but I could find little connection with Loughborough, apart from being the subject of a research outcome by the current VC of Loughborough University, so instead, this post is about Nymphaea Lotus, and Nymphaea Caerulea

These Nymphaea are probably better known to us as the lotus flower, and in this case, these are the Egyptian white and blue lotus flowers respectively. These flowers are of high cultural and spiritual significance to the Egyptians. We have already seen in E is for Egyptomania, that Art Deco was highly influenced by all-things Egyptian, as in the 1920s archaeologists were excavating the tomb of Tutankhamen. So, it shouldn’t really be any surprise that Art Deco architectural ornamentation often takes the form of lotus flowers. It is said that blue lotus flowers were actually scattered over the body of King Tutankhamen when his body was discovered in 1922.  

Our best examples are probably the columns surrounding the doorway of what was opened as the offices for the Echo Press, on Swan Street. Sadly, both are now covered in hardboard, to protect them from damage, but looking up, and even looking down, reveals some of their splendour.

 

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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