Louis Henry Sullivan (American, 1856–1924). Baluster Panel, One of Set, ca.1903. Cast iron, paint, 40 x 9 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (101.6 x 24.8 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Carson, Pirie and Scott Co., 71.42.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 71.42.3_PS9.jpg)
Louis Henry Sullivan (American, 1856–1924). Baluster Panel, One of Set, ca.1903. Cast iron, paint, 40 x 9 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (101.6 x 24.8 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Carson, Pirie and Scott Co., 71.42.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 71.42.3_bw.jpg)
Baluster Panel, One of Set
Decorative Arts and Design
Louis Sullivan had a great many of these panels cast for the grand staircase in Chicago’s Schlesinger & Mayer department store. Although the panels were always intended for interior use, Sullivan had them patinated to appear as though they had weathered over time outdoors, thereby connecting the interior design with the natural world outside. The design for the balustrades exhibits Sullivan’s predilection for carefully controlled geometry and stylized nature typical of his expression of the Prairie School style. The symmetrical leaves and flowers seem to be growing on vertical trellises. The repetition of the closely placed balustrades created a dynamic rhythm up and down the staircase.
MEDIUM
Cast iron, paint
DATES
ca.1903
DIMENSIONS
40 x 9 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (101.6 x 24.8 x 5.7 cm) (show scale)
MARKINGS
no marks
SIGNATURE
no signature
INSCRIPTIONS
no inscriptions
COLLECTIONS
Decorative Arts and Design
ACCESSION NUMBER
71.42.3
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Carson, Pirie and Scott Co.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Louis Henry Sullivan (American, 1856–1924). Baluster Panel, One of Set, ca.1903. Cast iron, paint, 40 x 9 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (101.6 x 24.8 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Carson, Pirie and Scott Co., 71.42.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 71.42.3_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 71.42.3_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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