Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Bring Home a Piece of Adler & Sullivan

Electroplated copper finish over cast iron baluster from the Chicago Stock Exchange (Courtesy of Susanin's Auctioneers & Appraisers)

Electroplated copper finish over cast iron baluster from the Chicago Stock Exchange (Courtesy of Susanin’s Auctioneers & Appraisers)

There’s something about the old Chicago Stock Exchange Building that architecture enthusiasts just love.  Unfortunately, they didn’t love the Adler and Sullivan creation enough back in 1972 when they allowed it to be demolished.  But in spite of being torn to bits, sold for scrap, and nearly forgotten, pieces of the building still survive and are cherished by collectors.

Elevator enclosure from the Chicago Stock Exchange on display at the Seattle Art Museum

Elevator enclosure from the Chicago Stock Exchange on display at the Seattle Art Museum

Parts of the original building have been incorporated into a recreation of the trading floor at the Art Institute of Chicago.  We saw a big chunk on display at an art museum in Seattle.  In 2012 a small piece of an elevator grille that turned up in South Dakota was appraised on Antiques Roadshow for up to $30,000.

So when Susanin’s Auctioneers & Appraisers send over a note that they had a piece of the Old Stock Exchange coming up for auction, our ears perked up.  Not because we can afford one, but because we know that our readers will be interested in knowing about it.

The piece is 26 inches long, and 11 inches wide.  It’s described as “Electroplated copper finish over cast iron baluster from the Chicago Stock Exchange, 1893″ and looks pretty cool, as you can see above.

The auction is this coming Saturday, March 19th at 9:00am at 900 South Clinton Street in the South Loop. It’s lot number 163-6055.

If a big metal hunk o’ building isn’t exactly your thing, the same auction also features another piece of Adler and Sullivan history.  It’s described thusly:

Medallion stencil depiction of interior decoration from The Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, 1889. Pencil numbered 49/500 Sight: 11.5″ x 15.25″

Medallion stencil depiction of interior decoration from The Auditorium Theatre (Courtesy of Susanin's Auctioneers & Appraisers)

Medallion stencil depiction of interior decoration from The Auditorium Theatre (Courtesy of Susanin’s Auctioneers & Appraisers)

Happy bidding!

 

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from Chicago Architecture http://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2016/03/15/bring-home-a-piece-of-adler-sullivan/


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