Spied: Samuel Yellin’s fanciful, feathered ironwork at Curtis Institute

As a tour guide for the Preservation Alliance, Mary Anne Eves knows a thing or two about the city’s architectural history. No surprise then that she was the first person to correctly identify last week’s Eye Spy photo, showing a detail of the iron gates at the Curtis Institute’s side entrance on 18th Street. These fantastical gates by master Philadelphia artisan Samuel Yellin were originally made for the Bok residence, and were later donated to the Curtis Institute by the Boks.

Mary Anne says she’s a big-time Yellin buff, so this was a no-brainer. As a tour guide she gives the Around Washington Square tour, the Art Deco tour, a tour of her hometown of Media, and – her favorite –  the Lewis & Clark In Philadelphia tour written for Bicentennial of their expedition.

As this week’s (our first!) Eye Spy winner, she’ll win a bit of EOTS swag and a button featuring these rare birds. Thanks to everyone who played and congrats, Mary Anne.

A dragon's face bends down towards visitors.
(A dragon's face bends down towards visitors.)

This iron bird (a crane?) does double-duty as a handle.
(This iron bird (a crane?) does double-duty as a handle.)

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