The Fair Store: Block with Central Shell Shape from Facade Possibly 1890 - 1897

This terracotta block, designed by William LeBaron Jenney for the façade of The Fair Store, features a prominent shell motif. In antiquity, the shell was associated with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, often depicted emerging from a seashell, symbolising birth and renewal. We see this motif echoed through the ages – from Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" to countless Renaissance facades. The spiral volutes beneath the shell, echoing the form of the shell itself, suggest a dynamic sense of growth and expansion. This evokes the idea of transformation, of something emerging from the depths. The placement of this block on a commercial building subtly alludes to the promise of new beginnings, desires awakened by the allure of commerce. This image is not static; it's a powerful force engaging viewers on a subconscious level, a silent language that reminds us of our deepest needs and aspirations, and its symbolism, rooted in cultural memory, has been cyclically resurfaced and adapted across time.