Archival Discovery of 1926 Roof Tiles Informs Ca' d'Zan Preservation Project
During a 2024 summer internship at The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, graduate student Sofia Paschero and Curator Marissa Hershon visited the Sarasota History Center in Osprey, Florida. They discovered historical photographs from 1926 showing construction workers unloading original Spanish roof tiles imported via Cuba for Ca' d'Zan mansion. These images, found in the Dwight James Baum Papers, are now being used to inform the 2025 roof replacement preservation project funded by Florida State University. The archival research revealed that no original tiles remain on the estate today, making the photographic evidence crucial for creating accurate reproductions.
Key facts
- Original Ca' d'Zan roof tiles were imported from Spain via Cuba in 1926
- No original roof tiles survive on the estate today
- Historical photographs discovered at Sarasota History Center show tile unloading
- Images are informing 2025 roof replacement preservation project
- Research conducted during 2024 summer internship by graduate student Sofia Paschero
Entities
Institutions
- The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art
- Sarasota History Center
- Florida State University
- University of South Florida
- Texas Christian University
- The Ringling Archives
Locations
- Sarasota, Florida
- Osprey, Florida
- Tampa
- Fort Worth, Texas