Lunette and decorative panel 1884 - 1885

These terracotta panels were made by Louis Sullivan, a celebrated architect known for his ornamentation. Sullivan engaged with the materiality of terracotta, an easily molded, fire-hardened clay product that allowed for replication and mass production of architectural elements, and was a signature material of the Chicago School of architecture. The panels showcase Sullivan's organic style, with stylized botanical forms in relief. The lunette's swirling tendrils and the panels' radiating floral motifs demonstrate a softened geometry. They are reminiscent of both Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movements. Terracotta was an affordable alternative to carved stone, yet still offered a degree of aesthetic sophistication. It allowed Sullivan to bring intricate design to a wider audience, softening the hard edges of industrial architecture with the warmth and texture of earth. Sullivan's decision to work with terracotta reveals his interest in democratizing design through industrial means.