Anyone know...

Anyone know if there is any historical symbolism as to why the Oval Office has its geometric shape?




www.whitehousemuseum.org...

www.whitehousemuseum.org...

[edit on 1/22/2009 by Icarus_Fallen]

The image in my forgoing post is a reproduction of a copperplate engraving found deep within the archives of a Masonic lodge in Bamberg, Germany. It was one of six plates found, all of English origin, engraved by P. Lambert R.A. and published in London in 1789.

The architect of the original White House (on whose design the rebuilding was also modeled, following the destruction of the first in the War of 1812), was an Irish/American named James Hoban. He was, of course, an active Freemason ...as well. The initial construction took place between 1792 and 1800, and the blueprint was likely rich in Masonic symbolism.

[edit on 1/21/2009 by Icarus_Fallen]

I should add: the implied connection between Lambert's engraving and certain aspects of Hoban's design is purely speculative.

Originally posted by Icarus_Fallen
The initial construction took place between 1792 and 1800, and the blueprint was likely rich in Masonic symbolism.

It should however be noted that the Oval Office was not constructed until 1909 when it was moved from a rectangular room in the newly completed West Wing (1902) to its present location.

It can be speculated that it is based on the designs of the Blue and Yellow rooms (Salons) in the original White House.

Thank you, AM.

Originally posted by AugustusMasonicus ...It can be speculated that it is based on the designs of the Blue and Yellow rooms (Salons) in the original White House.

Wikipedia's vague in that respect, but I remember reading elsewhere that Taft held a competition and that the winner's design had been explicitly modeled after the Blue Room. Can't find the article now, of course.