louis h. sullivan-designed hardware for the chicago stock exchange building

notable chicago prairie school architect louis h. sullivan designed builders' hardware for a number his buildings while working with dankmar adler during the 1890's. the non-extant chicago stock exchange building - constructed in 1894 - contained some of his finest hardware designs (the guaranty building was the other exceptional example with documented drawings for an escutcheon).

the hardware used in the stock exchange was fabricated by the yale & towne mfg. co., stamford, ct. whether is was a window sash pull or doorknob, the entire "suite" was cast in iron with a bower-barff "rust-proof" finish."

the most desirable hardware from this building contains the "cse" monogram, which was also used in a similar fashion in the plaster work found in the trading room. the monogrammed hardware was found on the office door escutcheons and push plates (although the latter were fabricated with and without the monogram).

every now and then chicago stock exchange hardware will surface at auction or made available on websites such as urban remains. the push plates are especially difficult to come by.