FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT | Window from the Conservatory of the Darwin D. Martin House, Buffalo, New York

Kelmscott Gallery, Chicago
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1986

Frank Lloyd Wright: Preserving an Architectural Heritage, Decorative Designs from the Domino's Pizza Collection, Seattle Art Museum, December 1989-February 1990; The Chicago Historical Society, March-June 1990; The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, July-September 1990; Denver Art Museum, October 1990-January 1991; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, February-April 1991; Dallas Museum of Art, May-July 1991; American Craft Museum, New York, August 1991-January 1992

Kelmscott Gallery, Frank Lloyd Wright, Chicago, 1981, p. 10
The Early Work of Frank Lloyd Wright: The "Ausgeführte Bauten" of 1911, New York, 1982, p. 47 (for a period photograph of the design in situ at the Darwin D. Martin House, Buffalo, New York)
David A. Hanks, Frank Lloyd Wright, Preserving an Architectural Heritage, Decorative Designs from The Domino's Pizza Collection, exh. cat., New York, 1989, pp. 56 (for the present lot illustrated) and 57 (for a period photograph of the design in situ at the Darwin D. Martin House, Buffalo, New York)
Thomas A. Heinz, Frank Lloyd Wright Glass Art, London, 1994, p. 103
Jack Quinan, ed., Frank Lloyd Wright: Windows of the Darwin D. Martin House, exh. cat., Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, 1999, p. 17
Julie L. Sloan, Light Screens: The Complete Leaded-Glass Windows of Frank Lloyd Wright, New York, 2001, pp. 262 (for the design in situ in the Darwin D. Martin House, Buffalo, New York) and 263 (for the a sketch of the design)

Overall very good condition. The decorative triangle and rectangle motifs are executed in bright orange and white opaque glass and subtly iridized olive green glass. The window with some light surface soiling and minor traces of putty concentrated to the contours adjacent to the cames. The window with two small hairline cracks to clear class tiles which have recently been stabilized by a professional glass conservator. The window with 5 small clear glass tiles which have been replaced with period glass. One small horizontal clear glass tile with a small clamshell chip, only visible upon close inspection. The caming with some occasional extremely minor bending. The caming at the top of the window above and surrounding the large horizontal clear glass pane appears to have been replaced. One vertical came in the center of the window also appears to have been replaced. Some of the cames appear to have been stabilized with solder at the intersections at some point in the history of the piece. The panel with some extremely slight bowing. The window is presently installed in a painted wood exhibition frame. A highly complex window design from one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most important commissions.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.