very rare c. 1920’s american art deco cast bronze western telegraph company building exterior facade ornament featuring a globe flanked by lightning bolts – welles bosworth, architect

About This Item

remarkable late 1920’s museum-quality oversized american machine age exterior building facade ornament salvaged from the non-extant western telegraph company building, located in st. louis, mo. the office building was one of 15 regional switching stations spread throughout the country, forming a “hub and spoke” network through which millions of telegrams were sent, received and transferred each year. the building was designed by notable architect, welles bosworth in the beaux-arts style. the building was built by dwight p. robinson & company in 1926. the massive bronze ornament consists of a centrally located globe flanked by jagged lighting bolts. this unique and highly symbolic western union bronze metal assemblage was used repeatedly within each of the window bays found at street level. the exact foundry or fabricator is not known. the telegraph building was demolished in the early 1990’s. nicely aged surface patina left intact. measures 120 x 24 inches.