Antique American Gothic Revival Church Wall Sconces

Details

Description

A exceptionally rare, one-off pair of antique, circa 1885, sculptural hand carved, painted white parcel gilt wall sconces that once … Read more A exceptionally rare, one-off pair of antique, circa 1885, sculptural hand carved, painted white parcel gilt wall sconces that once flanked the sacristy cabinet, the very important piece that held the sacred objects and religious relics of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Logansport, Indiana, United States.

Dating to the late 19th century, commissioned by the late Rev. Henry Koehne (1835-1907), likely collaborating with Chicago architect Adam Boos.

Hand-crafted in Romanesque Gothic taste, architectural cathedral form, each salvaged building element featuring an octagonal dome topped tower, framed by an angular roof, each side adorned with triangular triple window headers above a large Gothic Revival arch, housing a domed shaped interior with single bulb light socket. Could also be used as table lamps or accent pieces.

History:
In August of 1872 Bishop Joseph Dwenger appointed Rev. Henry Koehne pastor of St. Joseph's. Within ten years the parish had grown to the point of needing to build a larger church, which was done in 1884-85. The first collection taken up for this project amounted to nearly $4,000. Excavations began in 1884 and the corner stone was laid on July 12, 1885. By the end of December 1885 the entire edifice was under roof.

Dimensions: (approx)
Each: 17.5" High, 8.25" Wide, 8.25" Deep

*Please note, at the time of writing this, the matching St. Joseph's church scarcity tabernacle cabinet with pedestal base, as seen in the last photo, is currently available. Please be sure to check our other listings or contact us.

Condition:
Good original antique condition overall, especially considering age. Beautifully aged patina over the whole, strong, sturdy and structurally sound, with highly desirable wear, heavily distressed, weathered, worn, crackled, chippy paint with wonderful craquelure finish. Moderately stabilized clear coat finish to minimize further paint loss. The substantial past paint and finish losses does not detract from the overall display, but only enhances the distinct antique character, rustic warmth and rich historical depth.

Structurally sound, strong and sturdy, hand-crafted solid wood construction.
No exposed wiring exiting the sconces, unknown wiring and working condition, one side crafted with mounting brackets as shown in photos.
Additional uses/info:
Could also be used repurposed as table lamps, hanging pendant lamps, dramatic accent lighting or most unique handmade sculpture works.

Overall a superb example, exceptionally executed, interesting, conversational, slightly unusual and highly decorative, this exceptionally scarce one-of-a-kind works is full of elegant, sophisticated antique character and charm. Sure to be a majestic addition to any home, church or religious folk art collection.

Provenance:
History of Cass County, Indiana: From the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Extended History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana
Thomas B. Helm, Brant and Fuller, 1886

Cass County Indiana History; November 14, 2017. Subtitle: St. Joseph Catholic Church Logansport Indiana. http://cassindianahistory.blogspot.com/2017/11/st-joseph-catholic-church.html?m=1

Logansport Pharos-Tribune Newspaper
Logansport, Indiana, September 1897

The History of Logansport, Indiana
An Honors Thesis by Angela M. Jones, Dr. Joan Schreiber. Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, December, 1995.

Adam Boos of Chicago, Illinois was a renowned architect, designing and building various celebrated churches and religious buildings in the late 19th to early 20th century. His crowning achievement is the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church located in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The church was designed by Boos and dedicated on October 3, 1897 See less