Frank Lloyd Wright
Wardrobe from Wingspread, the Herbert F. Johnson Jr. Residence, Wind Point, WI


USA, c. 1937
oak, cane, brass
61.5 h x 66.25 w x 22.25 d in (156 x 168 x 57 cm)

Wardrobe features three doors concealing two adjustable shelves, hanger rails and hooks. Stenciled mark to reverse 'DRWG 40B Lot 6 Wardrobe Mrs. Johnsons RM'.

Provenance: Wingspread, the Herbert F. Johnson Residence, Wind Point, WI | Christie's East, New York, Twentieth Century Decorative Arts, 1 October 2002, Lot 25 | Private Collection

Literature: Frank Lloyd Wright Monographs 1937-1941, Pfeiffer and Futagawa, ppg. 2-17 discuss commission

Catalog Note: One of the largest houses designed by Wright measuring at 14,000 square feet on 30 acres of land, Wingspread is situated near the shore of Lake Michigan in Wind Point, Wisconsin. This house was commissioned by Herbert Fisk Johnson Jr., the third-generation owner of the S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin. Johnson was a "repeat customer" of Wright's, as he had just commissioned Wright to design the new Johnson Wax Administration Building in Racine in 1936.

Wingspread earned its nickname from the unique pinwheel-shaped layout that allowed for the separation of larger gatherings in the Great Hall at the center and the private living quarters in the wings. The wings were comprised of the parent's wing, the children's wing, the guest wing/carport, and the service wing. The wings also separated the outdoor spaces into four sections, each of which was fitted with a swimming pool, a driveway, a garden, and a lawn. Although not impressed by the land at first, Wright managed to build a house with a low, horizontal outline that embodies Prairie School aesthetics and organically embraces the land. One of the most striking features of the house is the 30-feet high "wigwam" at the center that is surrounded by a three-tiered clerestory encircling the tall chimney.

Herbert F. Johnson Jr.'s family resided in the house for twenty years until it was gifted to the Johnson Foundation in 1959. There was a formal dedication ceremony in 1961 with Wright's widow Olgivanna in attendance. Wingspread has been the home to important educational conferences since then, such as the National Endowment for the Arts, International Criminal Court and the Presidential Climate Action Plan. In 1975, Wingspread was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Now part of the Wingspread Retreat & Executive Conference Center, the building has been hosting private businesses and organizations for their meetings and retreats.

This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.

Good overall vintage condition, showing faint scratches, small chips, areas of veneer repair, largest measuring approximately 3.5 x 1 inches. Some raised and missing nail plugs, naturally occurring as medium ages, as well as some finish loss to top with scattered touch-ups. Hinges are slightly loose, not affecting function.