exceptionally rare chicago city sidewalk vault light panel fragments available for sale

i have been waiting for this day since 1996, when i first laid eyes on these unusual and mysterious iron and glass sidewalk panels found around the cast iron (i.e., soho/noho) district of manhattan.

better yet, at night, when wandering the area again, these massive, interlocking panels came alive when incandescent light from below transformed them into these fantastic grids with illuminated circles. from that point on i was intensely absorbing any and all information about the existence of sidewalk "vault lights."

to this day, when i travel to new york, i always gravitate towards soho, where several of these intact panels (some dating back to the mid-19th century) are found in abundance. i spend a great deal of time photodocumenting them from any and all angles, while at the same time, imagining the number of people walking over them for well over a hundred years. both time and foot traffic have given these panels such a remarkable patina, with smooth surface wear, purple-tinted glass and discoloration from oxidation.

over the years i've stumbled across some highly informative websites that explore, in great detail, the history of the companies and various patents and materials pertaining to vaulted sidewalks, luxfer prism tiles (with one of the tiles designed and patented by frank lloyd wright here in chicago). i strongly suggest the reader explore the internet to gain a better understanding and/or appreciation for the vault light panels that came through my door this afternoon.

the fragments i acquired, were collected by a sidewalk contractor with a keen eye for the "unusual and old" while replacing or repairing the city's walkways over the years. the contractor had a nice sampling of various vault light technologies in a variety of forms.

the pieces that excited me the most were the vault light sidewalk fragments containing the solid circular glass insets and surrounding "nubs," which virtually contain the same design configuration as the panels are so great admired years ago while in new york.

the refinished fragments depicted above were designed and fabricated by the richards & kelly mfg. company, chicago, il. the fragments retain the majority of their original reflecting lenses that have turned "sun-purple" from exposure to ultraviolet light for well over a century. a very limited number of fragments containing lenses will be available for sale.