original late 19th or early 20th century antique american gothic style oversized cast and wrought iron exterior wall sconce designed and fabricated by the r. williamson & company, chicago, ills. the massive wall sconce was salvaged from a prominent north side chicago church building shortly before it was demolished several years ago. the sconce contains wrought iron scollwork or volutes, pointed finial and a six-sided caged lantern. the american church sconce has been brushed down to bare metal and sealed with a clear coat lacquer. the backplate with beveled edges contains pre-drilled holes for mounting flush against a wall. great overall condition, considering age. r. williamson & company was founded by mr. richard williamson in 1882, who, forseeing the immense magnitude and the demand that would be made for lighting fixtures, opened a small plant on the far northwest side of the city of chicago, on milwaukee avenue. the entire space occupied by them at that time was fifteen hundred square feet. in 1889, having outgrown the milwaukee store, he moved to what was then the heart of chicago, 205 randolph street. by this time, the house of r. williamson & company had taken rank as one of the leading “lighting fixture” houses in the city of chicago; but even this rapid progress was to be eclipsed, and in 1891 this firm was again forced to seek larger quarters, and located in a large building on lake street, near state, which place they occupied until 1896, when this ever-growing firm decided to build what was then considered one of the largest “lighting fixture” plants in the western country. measures approximately 11 x 16 x 25 inches.