Not on display

Oak table from the William Fricke House

Table
1902 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This table was designed by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) for the library at the William Fricke House, in Oak Park, Illinois. Oak Park was a large complex of buildings, many of which were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright between 1889 and 1909. Commissioned in 1901, the Fricke House was designed during Wright’s brief partnership with the architect Webster Tomlinson.

The house exhibits many key elements of Wright's mature Prairie style, including its stone water table, horizontal banding, overhanging roof eaves, shallow hipped roof, and stucco exterior. The architectural form of this octagonal-legged table is typical of Wright's early furniture combining forms derived from the Gothic Revival and Arts and Crafts movements of the later 19th century. The colour and shape of the table, and of other pieces of furniture, were echoed in interior details throughout the house. Wright believed that wood should be cut simply and stained (never varnished) to reveal the 'nature' of the material.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleOak table from the William Fricke House (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Stained oak
Brief description
Table, American, Oak Park, Illinois, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the William G. Fricke House, 1902
Physical description
A rectangular oak table with four octagonal shaped legs and 14 spindle supports on two sides.
Dimensions
  • Height: 76.2cm
  • Width: 132cm
  • Depth: 132cm
Styles
Gallery label
(1993)
LIBRARY TABLE
William Fricke House, Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1901
Stained oak
W.14-1981

The massive architectural form of this octagonal-legged table is typical of Wright's early furniture. The colour of the stained oak and shape of furniture elements were also repeated in interior woodwork. Wright believed that wood should be cut simply ' and stained (never varnished) to reveal the 'nature' of the material. Within his houses, the form and placement of furniture played a key role in the organisation of interior space.
Credit line
Purchased by the Montague and Ethel Marcussen Fund
Subjects depicted
Summary
This table was designed by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) for the library at the William Fricke House, in Oak Park, Illinois. Oak Park was a large complex of buildings, many of which were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright between 1889 and 1909. Commissioned in 1901, the Fricke House was designed during Wright’s brief partnership with the architect Webster Tomlinson.

The house exhibits many key elements of Wright's mature Prairie style, including its stone water table, horizontal banding, overhanging roof eaves, shallow hipped roof, and stucco exterior. The architectural form of this octagonal-legged table is typical of Wright's early furniture combining forms derived from the Gothic Revival and Arts and Crafts movements of the later 19th century. The colour and shape of the table, and of other pieces of furniture, were echoed in interior details throughout the house. Wright believed that wood should be cut simply and stained (never varnished) to reveal the 'nature' of the material.
Collection
Accession number
W.14-1981

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Record createdMarch 1, 2001
Record URL
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