18 Aug bldg. 51 museum archive houses one of the largest repositories of historically important “sullivanesque” terra cotta

the bldg. 51 museum’s extensive collection of  late 19th and early 20th century “sullivanesque” style commercial building terra cotta is presented below in an exhaustive, ever-growing photographic survey conducted by eric j. nordstrom. the terra cotta ornament was designed by disciples of louis h. sullivan’s, including “gardenesque” (named after hugh garden of schmidt, garden and martin) and sullivan’s longtime chief draftsman, george grant elmslie. several examples of ornament were executed as “sullivanesque” white glazed stock terra cotta, offered by the midland terra cotta company, chicago, ills. 

examples of “sullivanesque” terra cotta ornament presented below:

artifacts, ornament and images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 museum archive. all rights reserved. 2021.