Carved ceiling beams, piers, and timbering

Edgar Miller
1946

Miller installed richly carved piers and timbering throughout the Gallery. He also created a faux barrel-vaulted ceiling to open up the height of the room. Each wooden beam is intricately carved in a manner reminiscent of Medieval European and Native American motifs. Similar to much of Miller's other major woodwork projects he executed throughout his career, subtle agrarian and floral themes abound, with small etchings shaped like fleur-de-lis and leaf-like notches carved from end to end. While one must look up to admire the carvings on the ceiling, the carved pier that is a part of the staircase allows a guest to view and even feel the brilliant carving work close up. In Miller's original execution, the walls were also covered with woodpaneling, which has since been replaced with white, plaster walls, and give the space a more open and airy feel.