15 Apr newly discovered richard nickel salvage photographs of adler and sullivan’s rothschild store now digitized
richard nickel images – selected from multiple contact sheets – showing the extraction of louis h. sullivan-designed cast iron spandrel panels from the 5-story rothschild building (1881) during its demolition in 1972.
the upper facade contained twelve cast iron spandrel panels divided by three carved joilet limestone piers with massive endcaps. the limestone ornament proved to cumbersome to handle, so none of it survived demolition.
with unrestricted building access during demolition, nickel systematically documented the wreckers dismantle the limestone and cast iron cornice, including the removal of four panels he arranged to have saved for the art institute, edwardsville, and other institutions. the eight remaining iron panels and cornice sections were scrapped.
the exterior cornice ornament rescued from the rothschild building represents the earliest extant example of sullivan’s architectural ornament.
