Frank Lloyd Wright

Valentine Minnich, New York

Thence by descent to the present owner

Upon an introduction by Elizabeth Gordon, editor of House Beautiful, Frank Lloyd Wright sat down in the Minic Accessories offices in Manhattan with owner Valentine Minnich to discuss a potential collaboration. Gordon had become friends with the iconic American architect in 1953 after she published an essay titled “The Threat to the Next America,” a scathing editorial that critiqued the International Style of architecture for its austerity. Wright was in wholehearted agreement with Gordon’s views and sent her a telegraph stating, “Surprised and delighted. Did not know you had it in you. From now on at your service.”

Their friendship led Gordon to urge Wright to create the Taliesin Line, a commercial venture which would include textiles and wallpapers by F. Schumacher and Co., furniture by Heritage-Hendredon and other small household items by Minic Accessories. During their first meeting, Wright and Minnich had an instant connection – their shared excitement was palpable in the room and a partnership was born. Wright admired the Minic corporation’s strong family values, as Mr. Minnich involved his children in the business from a very young age. As Wright came to trust and respect Minnich’s design process, he pointed him towards an 1890s creation of his own, the copper “Weed” vase. Based on that model, Minnich, with Wright’s direction, designed a similar vase in wood and produced it in two sizes (lots 82 and 83). Minnich worked on several other wood designs, inspired by Wright’s instruction to “think light and natural in two ways, light in design and light in energy.”

Gordon featured the final Taliesin Line in the November 1955 issue of House Beautiful, which was specially dedicated to Frank Lloyd Wright: His Contribution to the Beauty of American Life. The wooden Minic wares did not go on to be mass-produced, but they are significant in representing Wright’s desire to democratize good design. Today, an example of the wood “Weed” Vase is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and an example of the planter (lot 84) is held in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum.