post-chicago fire 19th century oversized exterior hand carved limestone commercial loft building window keystone with abstract floral motif

About This Item

original and largely intact oversized exterior hand carved limestone window hood keystone featuring a lightly incised abstract floral motif or design. the victorian era carved stone was salvaged from an early chicago loft style commercial building located at 128 west lake street. like many other buildings, this multi-story loft building was constructed along lake street shortly after the great chicago fire ravaged nearly all of downtown. the exact architect or sculptor is not known. the building was demolished in 1982. an identical keystone from the same loft building is on permanent display at the art institute of chicago museum.