D.H. BURNHAM & COMPANY, Architect. Frederick Dinkelberg, Designer. The Effect of Ornament.

The "rules" of ornament are nearly the same on D.H. Burnham's Heyworth Building as for Sullivan's adjacent Schlessinger and Mayer:  separate (though varying)  motifs for columns, lintels, conices and jambs.  Sullivan added a couple of extras (a couple) -- at the intersection of column and lintel, and of course, at the great corner entry.  But, conceptually, they are in the same ballpark.  And I'll admit to getting a little emotional over both.  (I'm looking forward to looking at Sullivan in detail -- after more than a year of blogging Burnham's Chicago buildings),  But there are still some Burnham mysteries to be solved.

.

It appears that in the early "oughts" Daniel was concepturally running two offices: his at-home Chicago School (Dinkelberg included) and his national and international  Beaux Arts applications, with Peirce Anderson  (from Washington to Manilla).  This must have made some interesting "political " maneuvering  in the break room.  Anderson didn't fully gain the upper hand until 1908, along with Mssrs. Graham, Probst and White. As the Heyworth took its place next to Schessinger and Mayer, and the existing Silversmith,  it might have been possible to believe, for the moment, that Beaux Arts was not a "threat" to names like Nimmons, Perkins, Weber and Dinkelberg.    What alliances were made, what promises given that solidified the future of "Paris on the Lake?"  To be the proverbial "fly on the wall" .....

____________________

Only a few more Burnhams to go.  But I've started photography for the next round. And if you'd like to peek ahead, link HERE

____________________

FOR MORE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY

VISIT

CHICAGO IMAGES in the Loop