Ceiling medallion from Guaranty Building, Buffalo,
Designed by Louis Sullivan, the greatest figure of the Chicago School, this ceiling medallion comes from the Guaranty Building in Buffalo, New York. The building dates from 1894–95 and is one of Sullivan's finest. Twelve stories in height, the Guaranty's exterior clearly expresses Sullivan's genius for ornamentation. Virtually every surface of the facade is covered with the intricate decorative abstractions that have become his trademark. Inside the building, Sullivan's brilliance as an ornamentalist is seen in even the smallest details, such as this ceiling medallion which originally functioned as a sconce from which a chandelier was hung. Covered in a pattern of geometric arcs and naturalistic foliage, the medallion is an exceptionally beautiful example of Sullivan's metalwork. There are three architectural elements from the Guaranty Building in the Museum's collection. These include 1984.98 and 1984.336.2a–c.
Artwork Details
- Title: Ceiling medallion from Guaranty Building, Buffalo,
- Designer: Designed by Louis Henry Sullivan (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1856–1924 Chicago, Illinois)
- Manufacturer: Manufactured by Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company
- Date: ca. 1895
- Geography: Made in Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Cast iron
- Dimensions: H. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); Diam. 37 in. (94 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Nancy Coe Wixom, 1984
- Object Number: 1984.336.1
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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Attributed to Louis Henry Sullivan (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1856–1924 Chicago, Illinois)
1900–1950
Louis Henry Sullivan (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1856–1924 Chicago, Illinois)
1893
Louis Henry Sullivan (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1856–1924 Chicago, Illinois)
ca. 1899–1904
Louis Henry Sullivan (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1856–1924 Chicago, Illinois)
1899–1904
Louis Henry Sullivan (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1856–1924 Chicago, Illinois)
1899–1904
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