terra cotta & strange drawings

[kurt]

Some nice terra cotta.....the blue was incredible; the pic's don't do it justice.

The drawings were in a back room of the bsmt. behind a bunch of stored items; they were "hand done". Anyone know the significance?

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[Bill Kibbel]

Wow! Makes me kinda miss the city. Mostly primitive German and Quaker colonial farms for me anymore, with no forms of decorative art.

I'd guess the basement art is scenes from the "home land", depicting their culture, occupation and religion.

[Chad Fabry]

That is very impressive. Time and what we do with it has sure changed since that place was built.

[ozofprev]

Way cool!! Thanks Kurt

[Les]

Kurt,

Polish?

Scuppers are unique though.

Near west side?

How did you "do" the roof?

[fqp25]

I would guess Ukrainian Village...

[Bain]

Good question, Les. I always hope for an attic window to climb out of on these kinds of houses, which is pretty stupid. But I do it.

Or . . . if there's a rear addition or porch, I employ the trusty Telesteps two-ladder method.

[kurt]

Originally posted by Les

Kurt,

Polish?

Scuppers are unique though.

Near west side?

How did you "do" the roof?

It's in the far NW corner of Lincoln Park; by Diversey a little W of Halsted on Oakdale. A strip of a dozen houses on both sides of the street; locals call it Terra Cotta Row. Some real beauties.

You noticed the scuppers; they are sweet. They are led into by a custom copper drip edge; the bay is capped w/a nice standing seam copper roof, the only intelligent thing ever done by the current owner. Having that roof over that tile has kept the wall ties intact; it was all tight. All original lime mortar. Sweet.

I know enough about glazing to say those colors probably go back at least a few centuries to someplace in Italy, but I'm guessing it was produced right here in Chicago @ the Ludowici-Celadon works on the South side. For a brief moment in time, Chicago had the Italian terra cotta thing going on, w/the roofing & the architectural detailing.

You get on the roof through a hatch off the rear egress porch. I've got more pic's, but not on this computer; the tile details are way more extensive than these few pic's show.

[chicago]

Makes one realise why one stays in chicago.

I spent 10 years in that area.I"m guessing the drawings were painted on to a cloth canvas like material that would usualy protect old plaster walls.what material is covering the what looks like old steam pipes,as bestos you can guess.

[chicago]

I was in the neighborhood and drove by today.

the bldg next door was interesting with what looked like terra cotta columns.

It must be nice on the inside with rent at 1,800 for a 2 bedoom.I"m guessing landlord pays heat.

[kurt]

The one to the west is falling apart; those columns are gone. Sad. The one across the street is pretty cool.

[chicago]

Yeah I agree,walked up and noticed all the patch work .They messed up the brick on yours when they retrofit that decorative iron security bar on the first floor front left side.