original c. 1911 ornamental cast brass emblematic interior office door backplate salvaged from the old chicago city hall building. the neoclassical style backplate was fabricated by the sargent hardware co., new haven, ct. since 1853, the governments of chicago and cook county have shared three different buildings on this site. the monumental, classical revival-style exterior of the present structure, which was designed to be a functional and efficient office building, symbolizes the strength, dignity, and vigor of the governmental functions it contains. the county building was completed in 1908; city hall was finished in 1911. the architectural firm was holabird and roche. yale & towne fabricated the hardware for the first phase of construction (i.e., cook county building). the sargent hardware company outfitted city hall by replicating and/or using the original molds from the previous commission. the city of chicago seal features an american shield with a sheaf of wheat, a ship in full sail, infant in a shell and an indian chief with a bow and arrow. the motto, “urbs in horto" is adorned with a scroll beneath the shield the inscription, “city of chicago; incorporated 4th march, 1837,” wraps around the outer edge of the seal. the history of chicago’s seal has been traced back to 1833 when the present city was still a town. the design of the town’s seal was a primitive yet faithful copy of the obverse side of the half-eagle gold coin of the united states money. col. t. j. v. owen, united states commissioner and president of the town board, has been credited with being the author of this first authentic signature of the town’s existence. when chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837, a committee composed of mayor ogden and aldermen goodhue and pearsons were appointed to draft a new seal. measures approximately 11 x 3 1/2 inches.