The campus at Sweet Briar College has many beautiful buildings, many date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some are quite similar to buildings at Princeton University, and they were designed a hundred years ago by Princeton's official architect. There is much symmetry in the architecture, so much that this small detail caught my attention as I passed by.
This blind arch near the entrance to an art gallery frames a later addition of a fire ax in a glass case. It is obvious that utilitarian additions like electrical boxes, gas pipes, air vents, air conditioners, and a large number of etceteras are installed by working men who do not seem to notice or care about the visual effects of their handiwork. But this frame is so even and symmetrical that I was forced to wonder whether the ax was not purposely hung off center. It is interesting to me that the height of the case is very correct to my eye, the top just above the line of the white blocks. I cannot say that I dislike the composition, since I have a preference for asymmetry, but I wish I knew whether it was placed here long ago by a visually literate rebel, or an uncaring Physical Plant employee. And when did they stop hanging fire axes by doors, anyway?
A mirror image of the left side of the sign
Bilateral symmetry
Radial symmetry