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A32 FEATURE
Thursday 12 sepTember 2019
A new look at Frank Lloyd Wright’s textiles, home goods

By KATHERINE ROTH patterns seem more remi-
Associated Press niscent of the ‘60s, featur-
NEW YORK (AP) — A small ing bright curvy patterns in
but important exhibit at the dazzling colors.
Metropolitan Museum of The installation also features
Art explores a little-known two Minic vases (which
facet of architect Frank Wright referred to as “weed
Lloyd Wright’s creations: his holders”) in mahogany with
line of wallpapers, printed metal lining.
and woven textiles, and Some of the textiles are
other home goods de- still available from Schum-
signed for the public. acher, which released an-
“Frank Lloyd Wright Textiles: niversary editions of some,
The Taliesin Line, 1955-60” although the colors now
remains on view through available tend to be more
Apr. 5, 2020. It reveals how, muted, Peck says.
in 1954, Wright entered into All of the pages of the
his first commercial venture, Taliesin Line sample book
designing a line of afford- have been newly pho-
able home products aimed tographed and can be
at the average consumer. viewed on the museum’s
The designs were based website, along with all 29
on Wright’s architectural pieces of Wright fabric that
designs and inspired by his This photo provided by The Metropolitan Museum of Art shows the Frank Lloyd Wright Room are in the Met’s collection.
buildings. located in The American Wing at the museum in New York. To put the textiles in con-
The line was named Taliesin, Associated Press text, visitors are encour-
after his homes and studios (for Heritage-Hendredon), furniture did not meet with and woven fabrics. aged to combine a visit to
in Wisconsin and Arizona, paints (Martin-Senour), rugs much success, the wallpa- While the Japanese influ- the textile installation with
and was available only (Karastan) and home ac- pers and textiles did. Many ence evident in many of a visit to a separate instal-
through authorized deal- cent pieces, made by Min- remained in production for the pieces is no surprise, giv- lation of Wright’s architec-
ers. ic Accessories. a decade, with some up- en Wright’s travels to Asia tural drawings, “Frank Lloyd
Wright entered into the “Wright didn’t trust interior dated versions rereleased and the way he incorpo- Wright: Designs for Francis
venture at the urging of his decorators. He called them in 1986 and again as re- rated Asian elements in his and Mary Little,” on view
friend Elizabeth Gordon, ‘inferior desecrators,’” says cently as 2017. architectural designs, some through Nov. 12. It features
editor of House Beautiful Peck, adding that an- The exhibit features an of the colors will come as a drawings and letters explor-
magazine. other goal of the Wright- enormous original sam- surprise. Far from the mut- ing Wright’s working rela-
“The intention was that this approved wallpapers and ple book, one of only 100 ed neutrals popular today, tionship with the Littles, for
was a way for his aesthet- textiles for upholstery and copies of “Schumacher’s many of the hues are vivid, whom he built a house in
ic to reach a much larger drapery was to help peo- Taliesin Line of Decorative such as dazzling shades of Peoria, Illinois, and another
audience,” says Amelia ple get his aesthetic right. Fabrics and Wallpapers turquoise. Even more sur- in Lake Minnetonka, Minne-
Peck, curator of decorative To publicize the Taliesin Line Designed by Frank Lloyd prising, some of the woven sota.
arts in the Met’s American of products, the November Wright” (1955). The works upholstery fabrics are inter- The museum also features
Wing, and supervising cura- 1955 issue of House Beauti- were a collaboration be- woven with Lurex, adding a “Living Room from Francis
tor of the Antonia Ratti Tex- ful was devoted to Wright’s tween Wright, his appren- less than understated bit of W. Little House, 1912-14,”
tile Center there. work, presenting the en- tices and Schumacher, but sparkle. a permanent installation
In addition to designing tire collection. Ultimately, Wright had final approval, “You don’t think of Wright that was originally the living
affordable wallpapers though, only the textiles, Peck says. as a sparkly sort of guy, but room of the Littles’ summer
and textiles for F. Schum- wallpaper, paint and furni- The exhibit also features ex- he approved it,” she says. home in a suburb of Minne-
acher and Co., Wright ture were produced. amples of some of Wright’s Other fabrics are surpris- apolis. The room reveals the
agreed to design furniture While Wright’s paints and wallpapers, and printed ingly forward-looking. Al- extent to which Wright’s ar-
though designed in the chitecture and decor are
late ‘50s, some of Wright’s interconnected.q

This photo provided by The Metropolitan Museum of Art shows
This photo provided by The Metropolitan Museum of Art shows an installation view of “Frank Lloyd an installation view of “Frank Lloyd Wright Textiles: The Taliesin
Wright Textiles: The Taliesin Line, 1955–60,” which runs through April 2020 at the museum in New Line, 1955–60,” which runs through April 2020 at the museum in
York. New York.
Associated Press Associated Press