Grotesque readers at a Gramercy public school

I love the Gothic entrance to P.S. 47, a city school on East 23rd Street that serves both deaf and hearing students and also goes by the name The American Sign Language and English Secondary School.

The facade features gargoyles and vaguely Medieval-looking figures in hoods and cloaks. It’s all a little Harry Potter-esque, which should charm the students who attend.

But my favorites are the two figures flanking a doorway to the left of the main entrance, each figure holding open books in spindly hands.

 

The figures don’t resemble kids, but I’m not sure who they are supposed to be or represent.

They appear to be reading aloud, yet they’re a little too creepy-looking to be teachers!

Here’s another literature-loving grotesque, from a building at the City College campus in the 130s.

Tags: cool gargoyles New York City, East 23rd Street school, gargoyles on school buildings, grotesques on school buildings, old Manhattan school buildings, PS 47 manhattan, public school 47. Gothic facade public school