MEDALLION
by
Amber Daymude
The medallion is the ornamental configuration at the hub of the dome. This covering serves as a focal point, where the twenty-four steel ribs which hold up the building come together at the top of the dome. The medallion has a 24-foot diameter and is constructed from wood and plaster. The medallion was placed in the atrium during the renovation in 1917.
A rosette pattern forms the inner circle of the medallion. The medallion is encircled with the Greek key pattern. The medallion is accented with a pendant that extends down from its center.
The rosette pattern is also repeated in the stained glass windows in the center of the dome that form a ring near the medallion. The technique of the repeated pattern gives the viewer the impression that the medallion is larger than it actually is. Otherwise, the distance from the floor of the atrium to the top of the dome would dwarf the size of the medallion without the visual support of the stained glass windows.
The medallion is a primary example of the Arts and Craft Movement, which was popular when the hotel was being renovated. High stylization, strong graphic patterns, and a taste for exotic forms characterized this period.
During restoration, the workers took the medallion down to be cleaned and repaired. When they were finished with the roof and all the painting, the medallion was returned to the top of the dome. Lights were configured to illuminate it.
REFERENCES
E-mail interview with Kent Abraham, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, on November 6, 1998.
West Baden Springs Hotel," www.tmnews.com, February 17, 1998.