Edward Mandell House Monument

The Edward Mandell House Monument[a] is a monument in Warsaw, Poland, in the district of Praga-South placed in the Skaryszew Park. It consists of the bronze statue of Edward M. House, a 20th-century diplomat, and advisor to the President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, who heleped in outlining his Fourteen Points. The monument was originally made by François Black, and unveiled on 4 July 1932. It was destroyed around 1951, and its replica, made by Marian Konieczny, was unveiled on 11 November 1991.

Edward Mandell House Monument
The monument in 2006.
Map
52°14′31.35″N 21°03′08.66″E / 52.2420417°N 21.0524056°E / 52.2420417; 21.0524056
LocationSkaryszew Park, Praga-South, Warsaw, Poland
Designer
TypeStatue
Material
Height
  • 10 m (original)
  • 8 m (replica)
Opening date4 July 1932
Restored date11 November 1991
Dedicated toEdward M. House
Dismantled datec. 1951

History

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The unveiling of the monument, 1932

The monument was financed by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, and dedicated to eEdward M. House, a 20th-century diplomat, and advisor to the President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson. He helped lon outline his Fourteen Points, including about reinstatement of Poland as an independent country. The monument was designed by François Black, made out of gunmetal, and was 10-metre-tall. It was unveiled on 4 July 1932, on the Independence Day of the United States. The monument was originally placed in the Skaryszew Park, next to Zieleniecka Avenue.[1]

The monument was deconstructed and destroyed around 1951 due to political situation in the country. Its reconstruction was proposed by architect Feliks Ptaszyński, the conservator-restorer of Warsaw. The replica was made by sculptor Marian Konieczny, basing on archival photographies. Unlike original, it was made out of bronze and was 8-metres-tall. The monument was unveiled at a different location within the park, on 11 November 1991, on the National Independence Day of Poland.[1]

Characteristics

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The monument is placed in the Skaryszew Park, located within the district of Praga-South. It consists of a bronze statue depending Edward M. House, with his left hand holding a scroll near his chest, and his right hand reaching out. It is placed on a pedestal made out of red granite. The total height of the monument is 8 m. The pedestal has the following inscriptions on it:[1][2]

Front
Inscription

EDWARD M. HOUSE

Left side
Polish inscription English translation

PUŁKOWNIK EDWARD M. HOUSE
1858 – 1938
MĄŻ STANU USA
PRZYJACIEL POLSKI
POMNIK UFUNDOWANY PRZEZ
IGNACEGO JANA
PADEREWSKIEGO
W 1932 R.
ZNISZCZONY OKOŁO 1951 R.
ODBUDOWANY W 1991 R.
WSPÓLNYM WYSIŁKIEM
POLAKÓW W KRAJU I U.S.A.

Colonel Edward M. House
1858–1938
United States statesman, friend of Poland. The monument was financed by Ignacy Jan Paderewski in 1932. It was destroyed around 1951, and rebuild in 1991, in a joined effort of Poles in the country and the United States

Right side
Polish inscription English translation

SZLACHETNEMU
RZECZNIKOWI
SPRAWY POLSKIEJ

To a noble spokesman of the Polish cause

Notes

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  1. ^ Polish: Pomnik Edwarda Mandella House’a

References

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  1. ^ a b c Irena Grzesiuk-Olszewska: Warszawska rzeźba pomnikowa. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Neriton, 2003, p. 85. ISBN 83-88973-59-2. (in Polish)
  2. ^ "Pomnik Edwarda Mandella House'a". twoja-praga.pl (in Polish).