Wright Chat

No. Once again a geometric and "modern-looking" unidentified object has had Wright's name pasted to it, for reasons that needn't be spelled out.

My joining of eBay, reluctantly entered into, has paid off, it seems, in that it's easy for me to ask a seller what the _____ they're doing by claiming, without evidence, that Mr Wright had something to do with their wares. Craigslist can be accessed by anyone, so that's easier. The sentence "Just because it looks like it could have been designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is not proof or evidence that it was" is going to get a workout, I guess, as time goes on. I'll paste it into my Notes app for easy retrieval . . .

SDR

My note to the seller:


Sir or madam

When advertising an object said to be designed by an historically-important architect or artist, it is usual and expected that some form of provenance -- list of past ownership, supporting documentation, etc -- will be provided. Most of Frank Lloyd Wright's work has been photographed and published; a photo of this firescreen in situ in a known Wright residence, for instance, could help support a claim that it is a Wright design.

I see that the screen has been photographed in front of two different fireplaces, in your ad. While Mr Wright did design such screens for a few of his houses, it is not uncommon to find non-Wright objects in Wright-designed houses. A more complete accounting of what you know about this object would enhance its value for a potential buyer -- and not incidentally burnish your own reputation as a seller of historically important objects.

Thank you. Stephen Ritchings

SDR,
Anxiously awaiting their response.

Me too -- though I doubt I'll hear anything. The price doesn't reflect any great value to this piece, and it is represented only as a reproduction. The Wright claim should be challenged, to my way of thinking -- but, well, it's a seller's market ?

SDR