Nickel & Bronze Entrance Doors
These seven doors were installed at the General Assembly building’s North visitor’s entrance. They were created in Nickel and Bronze as Canada is a primary producer of nickel. Although the doors were installed in Oct 1952, they were formally presented in the following Spring 1953. Each door has four bas-relief panels symbolizing peace, justice, truth and fraternity.
The artist, Ernest Cormier (1885 – 1980), was a Canadian engineer and architect. He studied in Paris, was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects scholarship, and spent 2 years in Rome, Italy, studying ancient artworks. He has many notable architectural accomplishments in Canada’s major cities, including Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City.
The doors were presented by Secretary of State for External Affairs of Canada and the then current President of the General Assembly, 7th session, Lester B. Pearson, to the United Nations on the 27th of March 1953. United Nations Secretary-General Trygve Lie accepted the gift on behalf of the United Nations.