Where did Louis Sullivan use cast-iron ornament on the Schlesinger and Mayer department store?
At the Schlesinger & Mayer department store (later Carson Pirie Scott) in Chicago, Louis Sullivan utilized lavish cast-iron ornament primarily on the first two floors of the building.1
These lower levels feature windows treated as display spaces, where the architectural decoration forms rich, intricate picture frames around the glass. This cast-iron ornament, which incorporates a combination of geometric and stylized floral forms, is particularly dense and notable over the main entrance, representing a pinnacle of Sullivanâs achievement in architectural ornamentation. While the upper floors of the building are characterized by an elegant simplicity, this decorative treatment on the base serves to make the entrance inviting and highlights the building's function as a retail space.12