Nebraska State Capitol

Ceiling of House Lounge

The imagery of the House lounge (West Lounge) relates to the “the icons of the mix of races (European, African and Asian) which settled the State after the Native American, forming the dominant culture of Nebraska today.”1 As in the House of Representatives, the decoration on the beams is stenciled. Unlike the narrative designs in the House of Representatives, however, the agricultural motifs on the beams and ceiling of the House Lounge are repeated throughout.

In the center of each of the coffers, Meière depicted a stylized sunflower. The undersides of the crossbeams, are decorated in a repeat pattern of sheaves of wheat punctuated by squares with individual ears of corn. All of the stenciled patterns are painted and gilded.

Detail of coffers and pattern on underside of beam

The sides of the crossbeams are decorated with Native American symbols for the sun in gold, alternating with the moon, also in gold, and clouds in pale blue. The clouds provide rain for both the flowers depicted in red and the plants rendered in gold and green. Stylized sheaves of wheat are painted in pale blue and gold on the undersides of the beams. The combination of the brown beams and pale blue and gold motifs lend a warmth to the lounge.

Detail of sides of crossbeams with Native American symbols