The Furniture of Frank Lloyd Wright

Spread the love

 

High Back Chair
High Back Chair

 

Frank Lloyd Wright is well-known for his architecture which is much discussed, but what about his furniture? Wright thought a building as art both inside and out and, therefore, embellishments such as furniture and fixtures belonged to the entire design. Somehow the concept of Mid Century Modern does not include Frank Lloyd Wright furniture. On the contrary, even though we, at this time, have a certain prescribed way of looking back on the mid century, Wright’s furniture has a place. His furniture also had widespread influence. According to Wright, “To thus make of a dwelling place a complete work of art… this is the modern American opportunity.”

 

Honestly, most Wright furniture follows an Arts and Craft style suitable for Prairie Style architecture. Only pieces designed for the Organic Style and later developments can be thought of as anywhere near Mid Century Modern. His heavy use of woods and the heft of the earlier works, although inventive and charming, seem old-fashioned in comparison to furniture of the International Style. Yet some of his furniture, like the furnishings for Taliesin West are inspirational and could easily find a place in a Mid Century Modern building.

 

This high-back dining chair (1900) is made of oak for the Ward Willits’ house in Highland Park, Illinois. The frame is heavy compared to Mid Century Modern and is an example of Wright’s Prairie Style.

 

 

Arm Chair
Arm Chair

 

 

 

 

Designed for the Francis W. Little’s house, this chair (1902-3) is made of oak and is typically “architectural”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larkin Building office chair
Larkin Building office chair

 

 

 

This chair (1904) was for the offices of the Larkin Building in Buffalo, New York and is made of steel and wood. Referring to the Larkin Building project, Wright states, “the first emphatic outstanding protest against the tide of meaningless elaboration sweeping the United States … The furniture was all made of steel and magnesite built into place—even the desks and chairs we made with the building.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larkin Building chair
Larkin Building chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

This chair was also for the Larkin Building (1904). Simple and linear, these chairs show influence of the De Stijl designers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print Table
Print Table

 

 

 

 

 

This print table was for the Francis W. Little’s summer house. It is made of oak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table
Table

 

 

This table (1912-15) made of white oak, also for Francis W. Little’s summer house, has a decidedly modern look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyprus Plywood Table
Cyprus Plywood Table

 

 

Closer in time to us (1940), this furniture is made from a cyprus plywood for one of his Usonian houses.

 

 

 

 

 

Barrel Chair
Barrel Chair

 

 

 

 

The “Barrel Chair” by Frank Lloyd Wright was designed in 1937 for Herbert Johnson’s house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plywood Chairs
Plywood Chairs

 

 

 

Oak Chair (1908)
Oak Chair (1908)

 

 

 

 

Origami or Winged Chair
Origami or Winged Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

Called “Origami” Chair, this chair is at Taliesin West.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chair
Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyprus Chair
Cyprus Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyprus chair from the Laurent House, Rockford, Illinois USA. (1949)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prairie Style Chairs
Prairie Style Chairs

 

Prairie style chairs. Edward E. Boyton House (1908) Rochester, New York.

 

 

Usonian Chairs
Usonian Chairs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John E. Christian House, Samara (1954). West Lafayette, Indiana.  Usonian chairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Side Chair
Side Chair (1902-03)

 

 

 

Plywood Side Chair (1937)
Plywood Side Chair (1937)

 

 

 

Stacking Cabinets
Stacking Cabinets

 

 

 

 

"Peacock" Chair
“Peacock” Chair

“Peacock” chair, designed for the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, designed 1921-1922.

 

 

 

Arm Chair (1925)
Arm Chair (1925)

 

 

 

Johnson Wax writing desk (1936-39).
Johnson Wax writing desk (1936-39).

 

 

Johnson Wax Chair
Johnson Wax Chair

For S. C. Johnson & Son Company (1936-39)

 

Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End…for now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HBosler

https://www.midcenturymoderngroovy.com

 

Mid Century Modern Groovy
Self-portrait