Doorplate, knob, and lock for Guaranty Building, Buffalo
Designed by Louis Sullivan, the greatest figure of the Chicago School, this door hardware 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 these hardware items which include a door plate, knob, and lock. Their surfaces are covered in a pattern of geometric arcs and naturalistic foliage, with the work "GUARANTY" interwoven in the design at the top of the door plate. There are other architectural elements from the Guaranty Building in the museum's collection. These include 1984.98 and 1984.336.1.
Artwork Details
- Title: Doorplate, knob, and lock for 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: 14 x 4 1/4 x 2 3/4 in. (35.6 x 10.8 x 7 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Nancy Coe Wixom, 1984
- Object Number: 1984.336.2a–c
- 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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