c. 1894 chicago stock exchange skylight art glass panels

About This Item

ncredibly rare and highly sought after late 19th century leaded art glass skylight panels salvaged from the adler & sullivan chicago stock exchange during demolition in 1971-2. the art glass commission for the trading room skylight system was awarded to the prominent decorating firm of george louis healy & louis julian millet of chicago. the skylights had been sealed off and hidden since the 1930′s when bell savings & loan added a false ceiling among other changes. when the skylights were discovered by richard nickel et al., the three oaks wrecking company demanded a large sum of money to release the windows to the art institute, who in conjunction with other parties, were dismantling the trading room to be rebuilt at the art institute. nearly two hundred skylight panels were crated and transported to the art institute for storage. this panel was apart of that salvaged collection released by three oaks wrecking. the art glass panel is very hard to come by, considering that the majority of released panels undergoing restoration were reinstalled into the rebuilt trading room. this style of panel (note the absence of pedals surrounding the circles) were used exclusively above the balcony floor (mezzanine level), overlooking the trade room below. the panel measure approximately 35 1/2 inches by 16 3/4 inches.