''Mail Delivery'' is a set of four relief sculptures by

Edmond Amateis Edmond Romulus Amateis (27February 18971 May 1981) was an American sculptor and educator. He is known for garden-figure sculptures, large architectural sculptures for public buildings and portrait busts. Life and career Amateis was the son of Lo ...

completed in 1941 for the

Section of Painting and Sculpture Section, Sectioning, or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section s ...

and displayed at the U.S. Court House and Post Office Building in Philadelphia, now called the Robert N. C. Nix, Sr., Federal Building, at 9th and Market Streets. The reliefs are carved in granite and each measures about in height by in width. The reliefs show the efforts of postal carriers delivering mail to the "four corners" of America. The ''East'' and ''West'' reliefs flank an entrance on 9th Street near Market Street. The ''North'' and ''South'' reliefs flank an entrance further south on 9th Street near Chestnut Street. Noted photographer and former Philadelphian Carol M. Highsmith photographed the reliefs as part of an assignment for the U.S. General Services Administration.

East

A fairly traditional 1940s scene represents the East. A postal carrier is dressed in a double-breasted uniform jacket and small round cap. He is bent over, like all the subjects in the reliefs, in this case over the front bumper of car and a mailbox attached to a fluted column. With his right hand he reaches toward the mailbox and he carries a mail pouch slung over his left shoulder. Another fluted column and the leaves of a tree complete the scene.

West

A "Wild West" scene represents the West. A cowboy dressed in

chaps Chaparreras or chaps () are a type of sturdy over-pants (overalls) or leggings of Mexican origin, made of leather, without a seat, made up of two separate legs that are fastened to the waist with straps or belt. They are worn over trousers and ...

cowboy boots Cowboy boots are a specific style of riding boot, historically worn by cowboys. They have a high heel that is traditionally made of stacked leather, rounded to pointed toe, high shaft, and, traditionally, no lacing. Cowboy boots are normally m ...

, a shirt and bandanna, and heavy gloves delivers letters to rural mailboxes. His cowboy hat in his right hand rests on his right hip. Three or four cacti complete the scene.

North

An Arctic scene represents the North. An Eskimo dressed in a hooded parka bends over his dog sled, which is loaded with mail bags. He reaches over the two sled dogs with his right hand and holds a whip in his left. Two bare trees complete the scene.

South

A scene from the

Panama Canal Zone The Panama Canal Zone (), also known as just the Canal Zone, was a International zone#Concessions, concession of the United States located in the Isthmus of Panama that existed from 1903 to 1979. It consisted of the Panama Canal and an area gene ...

represents the South. A bare-chested man of African descent dressed in only a pair of trousers delivers mail to a rural mailbox. He is bending over, carrying a bag of mail over his right shoulder and lifting a bundle of mail with his left hand. Two palm trees, a large cluster of bananas and a pineapple complete the scene.SIRIS
Mail Delivery (South - Cane Cutter - One of Four), (sculpture), Smithsonian Institution, accessed 2012/01/03.

References

Notes Bibliography *Kenneth Finkel and Susan Oyama, ''Philadelphia Then and Now'', Dover, 1988

External links

Directory of Post Office Art in PennsylvaniaFairmount Park Art Association's page about Mail Delivery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mail Delivery (Amateis) Outdoor sculptures in Philadelphia 1941 sculptures 1941 establishments in Pennsylvania Granite sculptures in Pennsylvania Sculptures by Edmond Amateis