bldg. 51 acquires sullivan-designed louis frank house ceiling medallion modeled by james legge

earlier this month, two nearly identical, museum-quality cast plaster interior residential ceiling medallions salvaged by richard nickel in 1968 were recently added to the bldg. 51 museum collection. the remarkable solid plaster ceiling medallions or rosettes were designed by louis h. sullivan for the louis frank house (1884).

the modeler, who did the plaster work for adler & sullivan's auditorium building, sculpted the medallions found throughout the frank house. the one featured in this post survived in the form of a box of fragments kept since the time it was rescued in 1968. now as part of a collection, layers of paint have been carefully removed and the rosette temporarily reassembled until a more thorough restoration gets underway for its exhibition in the museum gallery. with the paint removed, the delicate organic motifs - arranged in such a visually striking composition - can "live" again. the only damanging alteration it suffered is at the central opening. where the canopy of the gasolier once rested, the opening was "punched out" further when the frank house was electrified and additional space was required for the condulet box. with these repairs in mind, i anticipate a complete restoration for exhibit by early 2017. 

the non-extant frank house was commissioned by successful chicago businessman louis frank with dankmar adler & louis sullivan as architects. in 1884 the house was constructed at 3155 s. michigan avenue. the slim, three story structure was well adapted to maximize residential space while remaining within a conventional city plot of land. the mansion was crowned with galvanized steel ornament, including a pediment that nickel also removed. the facade featured a luxurious two-and-a-half-story projecting bay, elaborate portico with arched fretwork, art glass and ornamental cast iron exterior newel posts and window guards.

prior to its demolition in 1968, the building housed the illinois institute of technology's vandercook school of music, as documented by richard nickel's photographs. the medallion is a relic of the structure it belonged to, tying us to 19th century craftsmanship and the different iterations or occupants of 3155 s michigan. the object which outlasted the building also finds its significance as a small token of the lineage of salvage work in chicago.