Verona
‘For beauty, richness and delicacy of ornamentation, elegance of proportion, finished smoothness of castings, appealing sense of lightness and gracefulness, the Verona is simply incomparable – it is a work of art in iron’ – The Ideal Fitter (1897)
Verona
"A Work of Art in Iron"
“The seeking ever is for infinite perfection in every detail of the process involved.” – The Ideal Fitter (1897)
The Verona was clearly a point of pride for the American Radiator Company (ARCo), appearing in their very first radiators brochure in 1897. It was marketed as their grandest, most elegant design, meant to bring a touch of luxury to any setting. ARCo promoted the Verona for use in vestibules, parlors, libraries, and art galleries—places where an “extra fine” aesthetic was desired.
While ARCo designed radiators like the Peerless for schools and hygiene-sensitive environments, the Verona was clearly targeted toward more lavish and refined buildings.
Image: The Verona radiator as shown in the ARCo catalogue (1897).
Key Features of the Verona
The Verona radiator features intricate floral patterns running up its legs, complemented by a roaring lion motif at the center, with a lion’s head at the top. This design stands apart from earlier ornamental radiators, which typically incorporated flame motifs in their ironwork.
It was produced in a single, deep-column style, which shares similarities with hospital radiators but has a unique cross-sectional shape, slightly flared at the top and bottom. Despite its distinctive design, the Verona became one of the most popular ornamental radiators of the late 19th century along with the Rococo and National radiator.
The Verona radiator was likely named after the Italian city of Verona, famous as the setting for Romeo and Juliet . This choice wasn’t unique; ARCo often drew on European culture for naming inspiration. Their Rococo radiator, for example, takes its name from the French art movement known for its ornate style, while the Corto radiator honours Louis Courto, a long-time French supporter of ARCo.
Image: The Verona radiator featured in ARCo’s ‘Radiation and Decoration’ lookbook (1905).
