Port Room carved wood walls

Edgar Miller
c. 1930s

The wall treatment Edgar Miller produced for the Port Room's cozy space delights the eyes with almost 360 degrees of interesting and bold patterns that flow around and through the three walls and the ceiling of the recessed room. The abstract motifs seem to be inspired by indigenous woodcarving and painting schemes. Miller was adept at producing repetitive patterning, using zigzags, triangles, cross hatching, and other symbols and shapes in an array of permutations that was never monotonous. Subtle variations and evolutions in patterns that encircle the room keep the eye guessing as to what one might find around the next corner. The red and green colors used to paint the varnished wood add a further layer of design fluidity to the space.