Doorplate from the Guaranty Building Doorplate

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Object Timeline

1905	Work on this object ended.
1970	We photographed this object.
1979	We acquired this object.
2022	You found it!

Doorplate from the Guaranty Building Doorplate

This is a Doorplate. It was designed by Louis Henry Sullivan. It is dated ca. 1895 and we acquired it in 1979. Its medium is cast iron. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

This object was donated by Roger G. Kennedy. It is credited Gift of Roger G. Kennedy.

Balcony Balustrade, Model GI
cast iron.
Museum purchase from the Members' Acquisitions Fund of Cooper-Hewitt,....
2011-28-1

A sculptural picture frame manifests the quinessential design of Art Nouveau in its structure. At the top of the metal frame sits a small mound or bead where flowing graceful lines meet. The lines of metal clasp above the mound then flow into waves that flutter and tiny mounds abound on the upper sides of the frame. Their path continues down to the halfway point of the sides encountering a cluster of wavy curling forms and tiny beads. Both sides morph into delicate elongated ovoids with negative inner space. They meet at the u-shaped bottom decorated with symmetrical wavy carvings in the base where a triangular form rests in the center. The bottom has positive space unlike the sides. As our eye returns to the top we see another line is attached under the mound to form amorphic openings with the sides. The inner area for the photograph possesses an unusual shape that follows the outer form of the frame and resembles the top of a human tongue. Elegant silk velvet is applied to the space between all sides and the photo and glass.

Photo Frame, from the Bedroom of Madame Guimard at the Hôtel Guimard
brass, silver, plate glass, silk velvet.
Gift of Mme. Hector Guimard.
1956-76-7-a/c

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 35.6 x 6.1 x 2.7 cm (14 x 2 3/8 x 1 1/16 in.)

Cite this object as

Doorplate from the Guaranty Building Doorplate; Designed by Louis Henry Sullivan (American, 1856–1924); USA; cast iron; H x W x D: 35.6 x 6.1 x 2.7 cm (14 x 2 3/8 x 1 1/16 in.); Gift of Roger G. Kennedy; 1979-77-9

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2CNZv/
Accession Number 1979-77-9
Object ID 18498607