Frank Lloyd Wright acquired this Chinese eight-panel floor screen in the early 1900s. It has a $10,000-$20,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.
Wright purportedly acquired the screen in China sometime in the early 20th century. It was displayed at Taliesin, Wright’s historic home south of Spring Green, Wis. Because Taliesin is a designated historic landmark, the screen is the only item from the home known to have been offered publicly.
Each Coromandel panel is decorated with whimsical figures attending to various tasks. The whole is surrounded with a series of gilt oval medallions, and the reverse depicts spotted deer in a landscape with lingzhi fungus. The screen is also signed by the artist Liu Wangwen and dated 1684.
It was passed within the family by Olgivanna Lazovich Wright to daughter Svetlana Hinzenberg Wright as a wedding gift when she married William Wesley Peters. The screen was mounted to the wall and displayed in William Wesley’s suite. Architect Daniel J. Libermann, who worked closely with Wesley, acquired the screen from his son, Brandoch Peters. A letter addressed to Liebermann by John Ottenheimer accompanies the screen; Ottenheimer recalls the screen at Taliesin during his numerous stays at the home between 1953 and 1970.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Coromandel screen will be offered on the second day of the auction house’s three-day sale. A fully illustrated catalog is available at www.lesliehindman.com. To purchase a printed copy of the catalog, or with addition inquiries, please call 312-280-1212.
ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
Frank Lloyd Wright acquired this Chinese eight-panel floor screen in the early 1900s. It has a $10,000-$20,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.
