Albert Weiblen

Albert Weiblen (1857–1957) was a German-born American architect and sculptor. His company, the Albert Weiblen Marble & Granite Company, was based in New Orleans and specialized in monuments and burial structures.

Life and career

Weiblen was born in Württemberg [1], though his place of birth is sometimes noted as Menzingen, Switzerland. He immigrated to New Orleans in 1885 and went to work as a sculptor for Kursheedt and Bienvenu, buying the company in 1887 and renaming it the Albert Weiblen Marble & Granite Company.

The Weiblen company operated a large quarry in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Day-to-day work at the quarry was initially overseen by Weiblen himself, though he later hired Italian sculptor Theodore Bottinelli.[2] The firm served New Orleans patrons primarily, as well as many other parts of the South. Weiblen operated a showroom in New Orleans at 116 City Park Avenue.[3] Most of Weiblen's monuments were of Amphiprostyle design.[4]

After Weiblen's death at the age of 100, his daughter in law (mother of British triathlete Catriona Morrison) Norma Merritt Weiblen took up company operations. In 1969, Weiblen Marble & Granite was sold to Stewart Enterprises. The Weiblen company papers are now held within the collections of the Southeastern Architectural Archive at Tulane University.
Famous works

* Tomb of Lodge No.30 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans, 1912
* William G. Helis mausoleum, Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, nd
* Tomb of Josie Arlington, Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, 1914
* Thomas Egleston Monument, Atlanta, 1918
* Tombs of Joseph and Lucca Vaccaro, Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, 1920's
* Downman Tomb, Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, 1920

References

1. ^ http://www.tulane.edu/~lmiller/SEAA%20Summer%20Exhibit/Large%20Links/Impressing%20the%20Client%20Large%20Links/Weiblen%20Bio.html
2. ^ Freeman, David B.; Carved in Stone: A History of Stone Mountain, Mercer University Press, p. 109
3. ^ http://www.tulane.edu/~lmiller/SEAA/Impressing%20the%20Client.%20Index%20Page.html
4. ^ McDowell, Peggy and Meyer, Richard E.;Revival Styles in American Memorial Art, The; University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, p. 27

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