Wright Chat

Collecting Frank Lloyd Wright - (40.55)


David

Worth a watch; some interesting facts emerge, including parts of the auction or sale histories of furnishings from the Dana, Coonley, Martin, Robie, Imperial Hotel, Stevens and Laurent commissions.

S

I really dislike this entire video - if you want to collect Frank Lloyd Wright, go buy one of his houses, restore and/or preserve it rather than purchasing items removed from buildings meant to be experienced as a "complete work of art". Christies used to have a program wherein they would call owners of Wright homes (names will go unsaid) and ask if they had "anything" they would like to put in this year's auction! No ethics or morals.

outside in: Ditto.

To be clear, the Sweeton tables sold in 2012 (seen at 30:02) were two of the three dining tables made for the house, which left the house with the Sweetons in 1973. I didn't sell them.

I don't know where the third table is, but I was offered the two tables shown in the video by the son of the woman Muriel Sweeton supposedly gave them to. He said he'd love to see them back in the house...I said I would too. He asked me to make an offer. Not wanting to feed a profiteer and knowing I had a major restoration about to get underway, I offered what it would cost for me to make them...I have the drawings. The "offerer" laughed and said he wanted at least $8K for the pair. I replied I have the house itself to restore and can't afford to pay his price for plywood furniture I can reproduce if needed or wanted.

Christine and I did build a reproduction of one table for the living room in 2021. It looks great with the three hassocks we reproduced in 2012

I will say a woman who was given a hassock (or "footstool" as she called it) by Muriel Sweeton reached out to me after an article was published in the NYTimes about Wright houses in NJ. She offered me the stool gratis, and Christine and I hosted her and her husband for dinner at the house.

DRN sends this photo. He writes:

"From the pages of Architectural Digest, the answer to the oft asked question of where displaced FLLW furniture goes after the auction...to rooms where it doesn't belong and looks silly. This scene is in Paris."

Sweeton chairs made in New Jersey....An American in Paris?

I just left a comment for that YouTube video - I would suggest others add their own opinion, if they feel it appropriate... Best, Todd (owner, Stuart Richardson House)

Bravo, Todd, and thank you !

SDR

Very well said, Todd. Thanks.
I commented as well.
Dan

One can only wonder what is under the blanket covering that Parisian couch. The dog seems to be turning its nose away from it.