original c. 1917 american ornamental cast brass figural or emblematic doorknob fabricated for the extant turk's head office building designed by the architectural firm of howells and stokes (founded in 1897). the heavy cast brass office door handle features a detailed turkish man with turban. the doorknob exhibits wear consistent with age. likely designed and fabricated by the sargent hardware company, new haven, ct. at 16 stories, the turk's head office building (1913) is considered to be one of the oldest skyscrapers in providence rhode island. when completed in the 1913, the turk's head building surpassed the 1901 union trust building to become the tallest building. the office tower retained its title until 1922, when the providence biltmore was completed. the extant building is designed in a v-shape, likely influenced by daniel burnham's flatiron building" in new york city. the skyscraper's peculiar name dates back to the early nineteenth century, when shopkeeper jacob whitman mounted a ship's figurehead above his store. the figurehead, which came from the ship sultan, depicted the head of an ottoman warrior. whitman's store was called "at the sign of the turk's head." the figurehead was lost in a storm, and today a gargantuan carved stone replica is found on the building's 3rd floor façade. the building underwent extensive renovations in 1997.