Taliesin

Frank Lloyd Wright's Home

Sep 12, 2007 Kristin Abraham

A look at Frank Lloyd Wright's home and the furniture styles Wright created.

World-famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright called Taliesin home, whether he was in the original building tucked in between the rolling farmland hills of Spring Green, Wisconsin or whether he was at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Taliesin, the name itself, originally belonged to a Welsh poet and was chosen by Wright in homage to the homeland of his grandparents. As a word, Taliesin means "shining brow".

Both of Wright’s Taliesin homes are open to the public with a variety of tours covering different aspects of the architect’s life. The Wisconsin-based Taliesin also serves as a dormitory of sorts for some of the apprentices at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. This school offers both a Bachelor's and a Masters program for students but only 19 are accepted each year.

Although Wright is best known for his architecture, he was much more than a simple draftsman; he saw his homes as works of art and went so far as to master the finest details of each home. He believed that creating furniture was integral to creating the look and feel of his homes and often built or designed the accessories of each house. Many of his furniture pieces are actually built-ins, letting the home’s space speak for itself and keeping essential living pieces tucked neatly into the walls.

He was not only a fan of furniture; art glass became an important aspect of Wright’s creations. His art glass pieces, most notably from the Prairie period, have experienced a huge resurgence in popularity. These simply shaped pieces of glass can once again be found in homes across the world but also are seen on ties, drinking glasses and other souvenir type items.

Furniture in the Wright collection draws upon the master’s principal beliefs; quality hardwoods are used, the construction is simple and succinct, and the finishes are rich and luxurious. This style is similar to popular designs of the mission and arts and crafts periods, geometric shapes and dark wood finishes make a bold statement.

Wright’s Taliesin line of furniture was created by the artist himself in the mid-1950s for famous furniture maker Heritage-Henredon. His vision was a line that incorporated some aspects from his Burberry, Four Square and Honeycomb designs but made them less avant-garde and more digestible by the public. Unfortunately, the public didn’t like what they saw and Wright and Heritage-Henredon parted ways in 1956.

If you’re interested in incorporating some Wright designs into your home without shelling out thousands for an original then you’re in luck, Copeland Furniture signed a deal in 2006 reproduce Wright’s designs. The company is looking to draw interest by making a little bit of something for every room in the house including dining sets, bedroom sets, seating and occasional tables.

If none of these items suit your taste, then there is always that Prairie Art Glass necktie.

The copyright of the article Taliesin in Interior Decorating is owned by Kristin Abraham. Permission to republish Taliesin in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.