rare 19th century salvaged chicago ornamental cast iron exterior residential rain gutter collector box with deeply embossed "1871" date

original american exterior oversized ornamental cast iron rain gutter collector box or leader head likely designed and fabricated by a. knisely & company, chicago, ills. the gutter box is very unusual in that it bears the date the house as constructed, the year of the great chicago fire. the drop outlet or downspout is accentuated with a repeating floral motif along the front and sides the opposed integrated brackets for mounting the collector box are free from damage. the 1870's oversized cast gutter box was salvaged in the mid-1990's from a south side chicago mansion (since demolished) featuring a joliet limestone facade. unfortunately, very little else is known or was recorded pertaining to the history of the house.