22 Jun closer look at sullivanesque ornament on claude and starck’s lincoln school (1915)
exterior sullivanesque style terra cotta detail adorning lincoln school (1915) located at 728 e. gorham st. in madison, wisc.
the prairie style yellow brick building bedecked with ornamental white glazed terra cotta was designed by claude and starck – a madison-based firm that designed several building in and around madison and midwest using sullivanesque ornament.
the school operated until 1963, followed by the madison arts center. the building was converted into apartments in 1985.
the terra cotta ornament is strikingly similar to purcell and elmslie’s merchants national bank (1912) located in winona, mn. claude and starck were likely given permission by purcell and elmslie to use the winona bank’s terra cotta molds (albeit slightly altered – both in design and finish) for use on their school.
the ornament on both buildings was executed by kristian schneider for the american terra cotta company, chicago, ills.
images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 archive.
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