Frieze

This section of a terra cotta frieze came from the Farmers and Merchants Bank in Hector, Minnesota, and a town some 80 miles west of Minneapolis. The bank was designed by George Elmslie of the Chicago architectural firm Purcell & Elmslie, and completed in 1916. The frieze was made by American Terra Cotta and Ceramic Company, whose subsidiary GATES POTTERIES produced art pottery known as Teco (see 1978.507, 1982.187 and 1982.188). Kristian Schneider (working 1909–30) was the firm's head modeler and he produced many models in terra cotta, cast iron and plaster for use as architectural ornament by such architects as George Elmslie and Louis Sullivan. The frieze is molded in a dove tail or keystone pattern with stylized floral motifs. It features a repeat pattern of berry, stamen, leaf and wedge motifs. Some areas are glazed in tones of blue, white, yellow and brown.