Decorative initial “T” from the 1924 Deed of Gift between John and Frances Glessner and the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, conveying their Richardson-designed house at 1800 South Prairie Avenue. The Deed was signed on December 1, 1924, with the Glessners retaining a life tenancy in their home; as such, the property did not pass to the AIA until January 1936.
The gold initial with orange accents is surrounded by elaborate white scrollwork set against a deep blue background. It is nearly four inches tall, the height of the first twelve lines (three paragraphs) of the Deed. The use of large decorative initials at the beginning of paragraphs or chapters goes back hundreds of years and was a common part of illuminated manuscripts. The word “initial” is derived from the Latin initiālis which means “of the beginning.”
To learn more about the Deed of Gift, see the December 2024 article on The Collection page.