Lot 80A
Original Copper Spire from the Woolworth Building
Spire from the Woolworth Building which was designed in the European gothic style. The roof of Woolworth Building underwent extensive repairs in the 1980’s. Much of the original copper elements were removed and replaced with simplified aluminum elements.
Provenance: Christie’s sale #7215 18 JULY 1991. LOT 114
The “spire” through photographic documents appears to have been the spire located at the top of the building. The spire clearly appears in The Cathedral of Commerce by Broadway Park Place Co. 1917 and 1921. Page 4 titled “THE OBSERVATION GALLERY A TELE-PHOTO VIEW. And also appears in an original rendering on page 29 from the book SKYSCRAPERS by Judith Dupre Page 29. In recent photographs, after the roof renovations the top spire as been replaced by a simple pinnacle as illustrated in the book NEW YORK NEW YORK by Richard Berenholtz pg. 182 as well as all current photographs of the building. Further modifications to the original roof may be seen on page 187 of the referenced book.
Completed in 1913 The Woolworth Building remained the world’s tallest building for 17 years.
The spire is mounted on a resin base. Height 6’-0” w/o base.
Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000