Frank Lloyd Wright

designed for the Darwin D. Martin House, Buffalo, New York

Nels E. Johnson, Vice President of Linden Glass Company, Chicago, by 1942
Marguerite Phillips, Chicago, circa mid 1940s
Thence by descent
Acquired from the above by the present owner

See following lot

Overall in very good and stable condition. The interior and exterior surfaces of the window have been sensitively cleaned by a leading professional conservator specializing in stained glass windows. The panel with some minor surface soiling to the adjacent contours of the window caming, and with some occasional light surface scratches. A few tiles with small clamshell chips to the edges, not visually detractive. With four tiles dispersed throughout with small hairline cracks (all stable), including one inverted Y-shaped crack to a clear glass tile in the lower midsection of the panel and one spider crack to a green glass tile in the upper right corner. The zinc cames display a rich brown coloration, with expected light surface wear, minor discolorations and a few scattered areas of oxidation concentrated primarily to the perimeter cames. The bottom right corner with two short vertical cames which have been replaced adjacent to the clear border glass. The upper and lower right corners of the came surrounding the bottom horizontal glass rectangle appear to have been stabilized and re-soldered at the corner joints in a previous generation. The outer perimeter came with some small bruises concentrated to the top and upper third of the left edge (visible in the catalogue illustration; not visible when the window is installed in a frame). The bottom right corner of the perimeter came with a small isolated area of re-soldering for stabilization. When viewed with reflected light, the iridized surfaces display a wide range of fully saturated and striking jewel-tone hues. The catalogue photographs show this panel with reflected front light (versus remitted back light). The catalogue photograph is slightly oversaturated and does not sufficiently capture the true radiance, luminosity and subtleties of the iridized and metallic gilt glass. Please feel welcome to contact the department for additional photographs. A superb example of Wright's casement design for the Martin House displaying outstanding composition and coloration.
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.

This extraordinary casement window features a vertical pendant chevron motif masterfully articulated in iridized glass.  Wright utilized these casement windows in pairs throughout the first floor interior of the Martin House, where they were installed within large freestanding heating piers that served as room dividers.  The present lot, with its cascading chevron motif, was positioned in tandem with another from this series mirroring the identical pattern (as seen in the following lot). These casements—nineteen pairs in all—served a practical purpose: they could be opened to help regulate heat.  Visually, however, they disguise the structural purpose of the piers by making them look insubstantial and transparent.  When open, one can see through the piers from one end of the house to the other on two perpendicular axes.  When closed, the iridescent glass, gold leaf, brass-plated came, and clear glass scintillate in both natural and artificial light, no matter the time of day.  They are made to be seen from both sides, so whether open or closed, prismatic reflections enliven their surfaces. 

Julie L. Sloan, Stained-Glass Consultant, North Adams, MA