exceptional museum-quality speckled glaze figural terra cotta rondel from st. boniface school

a little over a month ago urban remains covered the initial stages of the death sentence handed to noble square’s early 20^th century historically important st. boniface church. as wrecking begins on the dilapidated structure, despite community protest to adaptively reuse the building, urban remains is there to document the tragedy and salvage remarkable ornament that would otherwise likely be broken, discarded or distributed without record and lost from memory.

in this way, the bldg. 51 collection acquires a unique and highly figurative terra cotta rondel that was positioned between the spandrels on the exterior of the sullivan-inspired late 19th century school building (demolished in the 1990's).

the exceptionally intact exterior terra cotta rondel features an impressive and highly realistic carved female face, bearing a stoic expression and star protruding from hairline, and is affixed to a circular base with a delicate beaded border - a signature design used by sullivan and wright during the time of construction.

the church, school and rectory - originally serving a german congregation in the 19^th century - were designed by notable ecclesiologist and church architect henry schlacks, who trained in the firm of adler and sullivan and briefly partnered with henry ottenheimer. the non-extant building is a beautiful example of a utilitarian design that incorporates lively ornamentation and character. various faces adorn the building’s façade in high relief and the following images depict what was recovered from the church’s slow deconstruction.