Bronze Archer Plaque Offered by Cranbrook Alumni Association

The Cranbrook Archer

tamen aerias telum contorsit in auras...

"he aimed an arrow high into the breezes of the air..."

The Archer, Cranbrook School’s inspirational symbol, comes from Virgil’s Aeneid. In Book 5 of the epic tale, there is an archery contest. A bird is tethered by a cord to the top of a wooden mast. The first archer's arrow strikes the mast and frightens the bird to flight. The second cuts the cord and the bird is free. With the bird in flight, the third archer shoots and brings down the bird. However, there is a fourth archer. He aimed his arrow “high into the breezes of the air” to display his skill and let the sound of the bow be heard. As it flew through the vaporous clouds, the arrow burst into flames and marked its path with fire until it was consumed. For this miracle, the final archer was declared the victor, and received the laurel wreath.

William Oliver Stevens, Cranbrook’s first Headmaster, sketched the original Cranbrook Archer. The design was then given to Eero Saarinen to create the school symbol. In the 1940’s, Lloyd Waite, teacher of Manual Arts, produced the original Archer Plaque. This bronze bas relief was made in the foundry at Cranbrook School using the sand casting technique. The plaque was given to faculty member Paul Friedrich. His son, Don Friedrich, C ’51, returned the plaque to the school in 2002.

The Cranbrook Archer Plaque is now available for purchase through the Cranbrook Alumni Association. Each plaque is individually reproduced in bronze by the lost wax technique and finished by hand with its own unique patina. The plaque is mounted on a 9 inch walnut base, intended for wall display. The cost is $1000.

In 1968, the graduating seniors commissioned the bronze Archer for the Quad as their class gift. Peter Kerr, then Chairman of the Art Department, was chosen as the sculptor. The artist’s model has been reproduced in bronze and is offered through the Cranbrook Alumni Association. Hugh Kerr, son of the artist, has overseen the reproduction of the model by Cranbrook Art Academy graduate Paul Martus, MFA. Each 11 inch sculpture is cast by the lost wax process from a mold of the original model and finished by hand with its own unique patina. The cost is $2500.

For information regarding purchase of The Archer plaque or sculpture, please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, 248-645-3613, or email kdiscenna@cranbrook.edu.