Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project
Carved Decoration
Region ID | GW | |
Work ID | 273 | |
Manual Reference | AN/061 | |
Title | Carved Decoration | |
Sculptor | Vickers, William | |
Architect | McNaughtan, Duncan | |
Date of design | 1897-1900 | |
Year of unveiling | c.1900 | |
Unveiling details | ||
Road | Wellington Street | |
Precise Location | 40-60 Wellington Street, Above entrance and across facades, Baltic Chambers | |
A to Z Ref | K16 35 | |
OS Ref | ||
Postcode | G2 | |
Work is | Extant | |
Listing Status | Don't know | |
Duty of Care | ||
Commissioned by | Baltic Chambers Company | |
Notes | ||
The carved decoration consists of ships' prows above the entrances (40/60) on the west façade, and escutcheons above the main entrance (50), west façade, one of which features a ship in full sail, lion masks above the second storey windows and the corbels of the corner towers. There is a cherub head in the gable, at attic level, west façade, and a frieze with putti and garlanded, blind escutcheons on the first floor of the south corner turret. There are blind escutcheons under the eaves of the corner turrets | ||
The building was erected by the Baltic Chambers Company as business chambers. The estimated cost in 1897 being £38,500. The offices were occupied by 55 companies in 1900; by 1927 there were 115. The building was cleaned c.1973. The style of the decoration was described at the time as being 'free renaissance ... with art nouveau just appearing in the friezing' | ||
circa | c. | |
raw year | 1900 | |
Condition | Good | |
At risk | Not at risk | |
Inscriptions | In intaglio lettering, at centre of west façade, above entrance: BALTIC CHAMBERS In Roman numerals, flanking entrance, centre of west façade: 50 / 50 | |
Signatures | ||
Elements
Element Details
Part of work | Material | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
Sculpture | Red Locharbriggs sandstone | |
Assessment of Condition
Surface Character
Detail | Comment |
|---|---|
Previous treatments | Building and sculpture have been cleaned |
Corrosion, Deterioration | Frieze work weatherworn |
Structural Condition
Structural Condition | Comment |
|---|---|
Broken, missing parts | Columns removed from centre of west façade |
Vandalism
Vandalism | Comment |
|---|---|
None | |