Heritage Auctions' site

Macrodex · Post by **Macrodex** » Wed Apr 24, 2019 9:20 am

Found out that they have/had many auctions of Wright's unbuilt projects that include perspectives and plans -- site, elevations, details, etc.

Just as two examples:

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/prints-and-w ... ion-071515

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/prints-and-w ... ion-071515

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Wed Apr 24, 2019 9:38 am

Thanks ! And, you remind me to post what I discovered, just a couple of days ago: the missing Zimmerman drawing set---Taliesin has no copies of these drawings---appeared on the Heritage site nine days ago:

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/fine-art-wor ... 01-67117.s

I am told that the Currier Museum of Art, Manchester NH, custodian of the house, has acquired the drawings . . .

S

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Wed Apr 24, 2019 11:43 am

The Palmer House is interesting, in that the bedrooms appear to open up to an unenclosed pathway. The image is a bit faint, and I cannot quite make out what is going on at the lower end of that long colonnade. One space or the other must be the kitchen, probably the one to the right. The other may be an outdoor roofed area?

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Wed Apr 24, 2019 12:06 pm

The project is not found in the Monographs or in Taschen ?

S

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Wed Apr 24, 2019 12:30 pm

Yes, 3 projects. The first 2 designs were versions of Jester (Mono 7/158-9; Tasch 3/139) that were greatly expanded... not to the extent of the one in New England, but quite a bit larger than Ralph's plan. The third, seen here, is not in Mono, but in Taschen 3/178, in blueprint. This one is much more interesting than the Jester jest.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Wed Apr 24, 2019 4:43 pm

The Paul Palmer drawing set sold for $31,250 . . .

The house is designed on a five-foot square unit. Floors are precast five-foot-square integrally-colored "tiles." Walls are concrete block specials; the spec is worth reading in its entirety:

The peculiar roof volume seems designed in part to provide a plenum for AC. The end expression of those prismatic volumes seem to have given the crew some trouble in the drafting room, but eventual solution let to some interesting elevations.

S

DRN · Post by **DRN** » Wed Apr 24, 2019 4:49 pm

As I noted in another thread I found a set of CD's for my favorite unbuilt, the William Clifton house designed for northern New Jersey:
https://fineart.ha.com/itm/decorative-a ... 78-79113.s#

My question is where is Heritage getting all of these drawing sets?...do they network?...is this a mother load from a single collector or his/her estate?...did these drawings and prints "walk" out of Taliesin?...were these drawings and prints part of the mid-1980's drawing sale held by Taliesin?...were these sent by Taliesin to a preferred contractor for pricing?

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Wed Apr 24, 2019 4:55 pm

Good questions. One aspect of the Palmer set is that studies as well as finished sheets are in the group of 24 that were sold.

Is it unlikely that the client or contractor would have received unfinished perspective views and unresolved, even sketchy elevations ?

S

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 7:15 am

WOW - nice thread.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 7:22 am

This is the kind of access I think the Archives should aim for.
Don't think I'll live to see it though.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:13 am

looks like Wright put a lot into the Paul Palmer House.
Highly articulated interior wood ceiling
Octagonal livingroom windows pivoting horizontally around center lines to open.
Expsoed steel mullions, painted and waxed.
Clerestory or 'eyebrow' called out in section as "sunbeam window"
Custom block walls
Shame it was not built.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:22 am

Interesting
Compare the sash details her on Palmer with those of Lamberson.
It does appear that Wright had developed windows and doors with wood rails bolted to exposed steel stiles or mullions.
Don't think I've ever seen a built example of those.
Here at Palmer the glass is fitted to the exterior
with a hefty amount of glazing compound.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 11:20 pm

Cool, huh ? What do you think of those prismatic roofs ? Don't you love the strategically-placed 2x4 "trusses" ?

S

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 6:48 am

Roof is so cool.
Plan to go back and take a much closer look.
Windows at the end of the livingroom and master bedroom under those
"wood prisms" would make for one incredible interior.
Also the cased beams in the living room -
I think they are called out in the drawings as "pendentives" - lapped wood triangular in section,
and tapering in elevation.
Highly articulated house
Again - shame it was not built.

outside in · Post by **outside in** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 10:40 am

I have to admit I'm a little surprised by the number of projects and built works represented by this Auction House. I'm also frustrated, if not angry, that these drawings will end up in private hands instead of the archives, thereby limiting access for anyone wishing to study his work.

Its not much different than the investors who purchased a Van Gogh painting and then placed it in a locked, environmentally controlled safe to protect their "investment", thereby ensuring that it will never be seen again.

My experience with collectors is that they actually enjoy having something no one else has, and are therefore protective of their "prize" - want to study a drawing because there is restoration going on? Forget it, you may damage the goods. Once again, the art market taketh away.