Not all buildings with Sullivanesque ornament were designed by the master himself. Widely popular, they were also widely copied, and the style proliferated due to a number of Chicago-based companies. Stock replicas of Sullivans designs manufactured by the Midland Terra Cotta Company and others gave distinction to utilitarian buildings in commercial strips, such as the downtown districts of smaller towns. Midland Terra Cotta produced a substantial amount of Sullivanesque terra cotta ornament used to dress up buildings designed by lesser-known architects. The ornament borrows heavily from the design motifs of draftsman George Grant Elmslie under the guidance of Louis Sullivan. Mass-produced Sullivanesque terra cotta endured as a result of its aesthetic appeal, blending the sophistication of high architectural art with the pragmatic functionality of building design.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 20:41:24 +0000
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