| Accompanied by the sound of applause, a boom lift gently placed the new central ornamental finial onto the roof of the Eldridge Street Synagogue, marking the end of one phase of a 20-year, $12 million restoration project. Yet it was dedicated to Bladud the founder of the Druids, whom Wood called "Priests of the Oak" and depicted as a nature cult, (63) and the parapet of the Circus was accordingly crowned with giant stone carved acorn finials. The original fence's design consisted of finials and ornamental unions that were cast around, rather than fastened to, its pickets and rails. |
