two matching midland terra cotta "sullivanesque" rooftop finials added to the bldg. 51 museum

in previous posts (here and here) i've discussed my concern over the number of buildings being demolished that have facades bedecked with glazed white "sullivanesque" terra cotta ornament. this unusual terra cotta, "inspired" by organic design motifs original to louis h. sullivan and his chief draftsman (later an architect in his own right), george grant elmslie, was fabricated as "common stock" pattern by the midland terra cotta company.

any single or double story commercial building could easily be dressed up by plugging in various pieces offered under a wide array of configurations. these were promoted in the form of a portfolio containing drawings and product "plates", that a traveling representative could use to entice clients seeking to build soda shops, pharmacies, restaurants, diners and so on.

the majority of the commercial structures outfitted with "sullivanesque" terra cotta were constructed from the turn of the century on, with a fever pitch reached by the 1920's. gradual decline or fading out of these buildings likely began during or shortly after the depression; mass production of terra cotta used as an ornamental building material had virtually ceased by the late 1940's.

the two oversized "roofline" ornamental terra cotta finials the bldg. 51 museum recently acquired were removed from a chicago building that was demolished long ago. when you are of the mindset that so much of this ornament has been lost, it is refreshing to see it surface. for the most part it's true that much of this terra cotta has been scrapped, but clearly there are a few cases in which someone recognized the importance of this ornament and made the effort to salvage it.

although i already have a slight variation of this finial tucked away in the museum, its nice to have a matching set. moreover, of the "sullivanesque" facades i've either salvaged or documented, very few are fabricated with the finial being integrated into the ridge capping blocks. these oversized freestanding rooftop finials exhibit a predictable crazing in the glazed finish, but show very little discoloration from prolonged exposure to the elements (e.g., air pollution -- billows of smoke containing sooty acids or hydrocarbons from the use of coal as a primary of fuel in factories, commercial buildings, homes and so on).

so the ornament is arguably in great condition, though i must admit, exposure to decades of polluted air does create an appealing "patina" that often accumulates in the recessed regions, lending contrast that makes the intricate details more pronounced.