Sun Fire And Life Insurance, 117, 119, 121 West George Street, Glasgow

Wm Leiper, 1889-94. Francois Ier style commercial building on

corner site, sculpture by Birnie Rhind. 4 storeys, double

attic. 3 x 3 main bays with wide, canted corner bay. Modern

shops in S bays in Renfield Street. Polished red ashlar. All

windows sash and case in architraves, some with stone mullion

and transomes, some arched. Multi-pane glazing.

Entry at 42 Renfield Street in canted angle, flanked by

semi-engaged columns, with fanlight and iron grille; corner

bay with angle piers, corbelled out on sculpted heads;

variety of elaborately detailed windows in 1st to 5th floors;

bold sculpted frieze over 1st, heads set in wreaths 2nd and

4th; main cornice over 3rd; decorative dome and cupola.

W ELEVATION TO RENFIELD STREET: equally decorative with

advanced 2-bay section rising through 2nd and 3rd floors with

pilasters and columns, open scrolled pediment with

Michaelangelesque figure group, solid parapet to each floor

corbelled out on sculpted brackets, 5th floor windows

elaborately pedimented, some as dormers; double attic with

pedimented gable in S bay.

ELEVATION TO WEST GEORGE STREET: 2 unequal pedimented gables;

detailing throughout related to Renfield Street. 1 decorated

bay on return to West George Lane.

INTERIOR: Marble-lined walls. Columned chimneypiece (by

Rhind) with sculpted figure relief; open scrolled, broken

pediment. Carved door architraves with relief panels above,

timber enclosed office with carved clock. Panelled marble

frieze. Coffered ceiling.