photographic study of the carrie eliza getty tomb's exterior ornament

sullivan devoted a great deal of energy to the masonry joinery, making it a critical facet of the structure's overall composition. the ashlar limestone slabs were arranged horizontally to form the lower walls. the arches and windows or portals are surrounded by a field pattern consisting of repeating octagons accentuated with starbursts. the roof consists of three massive stone slabs curving upward along the edges.

the carrie eliza getty tomb was commissioned in 1890 by lumber baron henry harrison getty for his wife carrie eliza. it was designed by louis h. sullivan of adler & sullivan. getty chose Sullivan based on his appreciation of adler & sulllvian’s buildings located in downtown Chicago as well as the mausoleum sullivan designed for getty's late partner, martin ryerson (completed in 1887).

the rectangular-shaped tomb was built using Indiana or bedford limestone blocks with masonry joints sealed with lead. the upper half of the structure contains a distinctive field pattern comprised of strongly geometric repeating carved octagons accentuated with eight-pointed “starbursts.” the projecting cornice features a single band of intricately designed spiraling floral motifs. the roofline is flat on the front and back and scal loped or concaved on the sides.

located below the semi-circular segmented archway bearing the name of the deceased is the ornamental cast bronze hinged gates and single door with oversized drop handle. The bronze work was executed by the yale & towne mfg. company of Stamford, ct. sullivan later had a plaster cast of the door made where it received an award at the at the 1900 paris exhibition.

a plaster cast of the tomb's inner door - fabricated by yale & towne - was one of the gifts given to the french government after the 1893 chicago world's fair. the plaster castings of sullivan's ornament were exhibited at the musee des arts decoratifs in paris.

getty tomb image gallery, beginning with images of the gates in greater detail:

the ornamental arches and bronze window grilles: