historically-important ornament from guaranty and larkin building joins bldg. 51 museum

a collection of historically-important architectural ornament, comprised of sullivan-designed ornament salvaged from adler and sullivan's guaranty building (1896), and an exterior brick wall fragment recovered during demolition of frank lloyd wright's larkin building (1904-1906) during its demolition in 1950, was purchased for the bldg. 51 museum and archive late last week.

the fragment collection is tied to a deeply informative and equally intriguing provenance that will be included in a future post offering a more in-depth analysis of the guaranty and larkin building life cycle, with the former narrowly escaping demolition to pave way to it rebirth through restoration, as opposed to the latter, which was destroyed after ill-fated circumstances coupled with rapid neglect and ultimate abandonment.

images of ornament secured by the bldg. 51 museum archive. 

artifacts from adler and sullivan's guaranty building include original copper-plated or electro-glazed cast iron exterior storefront mullion sections, an oversized cast iron window sash pull and office door hardware (the original bower-barff finish remains largely intact) executed by the yale & towne mfg. company, new britain, ct. 

a sizable section of face brick with colored mortar was salvaged from frank lloyd wright's administration building during its demolition in 1950. in addition to the brick fragment, i'm including images of existing artifacts housed in the bldg. 51 collection, including a rare dark brown enameled tubular steel side chair and original copper-plated single light wall sconce.

all images courtesy of the bldg. 51 musuem archive.

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