Issue 465 May 21st 2025

The Headlines

Frank Lloyd Wright Lamp Breaks Records With $7.5 Million Sale

At Sotheby's Modern Evening Auction, Frank Lloyd Wright's double-pedestal lamp broke a record when it sold for $7.5 million after an 11-minute battle between bidders. The iridescent lamp, in shades of gold, green, blue, and purple, is now the most valuable Wright work ever sold at auction, more than doubling his previous record. The price is four times what the lamp sold for when it was last on the block in 2002.

Formally titled "An Important Double-Pedestal Lamp for the Susan Lawrence Dana House, Springfield, Illinois," the piece was initially commissioned for one of Wright's early residential homes. There are just two versions of this lamp in existence: the one that sold last night and one that Illinois Governor Jim Thompson and the Dana-Thomas House Foundation acquired in 1988 for the permanent collection of the Dana-Thomas House, which is now a museum.

The lamp is made from iridized and opalescent glass and bronze in a brass-plated “colonial” zinc frame. Wright designed the work in 1903 and it was executed by the Linden Glass Company in Chicago the next year. The lamp's gold, amber, and green shade features geometric patterns and the "sumac motif," a prairie plant Wright used as design inspiration throughout the Dana-Thomas House. Parts of the lamp gently move: the two vertical blue-green glass panels on each side have hinges. Sotheby's notes that these panels may reference Japanese “shoji” screens—believed to repel evil spirits—which Wright admired during visits to Japan.

Overall, this sale is a boon to the architect's already storied legacy. Jodi Pollack, Sotheby’s chairman and co-worldwide head of 20th century design notes that the sale, "celebrates not only a remarkable piece of American design but a landmark moment in the legacy of one of the most visionary architects in history."

Wright's Winn House Finally Finds A Buyer—After $1 Million Discount

A Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Usonian home in Kalamazoo, MI, originally listed for $1.85 million, finally sold after nearly a year on the market—for just $850,000, a full $1 million below the asking price. The property, known as the Robert D. and Winifred L. Winn House, was purchased by sellers in 2012 for $200,000 and extensively renovated over six years with $800,000 in upgrades.

Despite the steep discount, the sale attracted global interest once the price dropped. The buyer, a Midwesterner, plans to use the home part-time. The seller prioritized a quick sale for personal reasons.

The 1950-built home includes classic Wright features—open layout, flat roof, carport, and signature furnishings—plus original blueprints with Wright’s handwritten notes. Located in the architecturally significant Parkwyn Village, it's one of several Wright homes in the area seeing renewed interest thanks to restoration efforts by local enthusiasts.

Other notable Wright-designed homes nearby have fetched higher prices, including the $2.1 million Eppstein House and the $1.8 million Pratt House, suggesting the Winn House buyer secured a particularly good deal.

Inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hidden Woodland Utopia

Architectural Digest travels to Pleasantville, New York, in this video, to tour the Bertha and Sol Friedman House, one of the architectural gems in Frank Lloyd Wright’s visionary Usonia neighborhood. In the 1940s, a group of New York City architects, guided by Wright himself, set out to build a modern, affordable utopia—a community rooted in design, nature, and innovation. This resulted in a stunning group of mid-century modern homes nestled in the woods, just an hour from Manhattan. Explore how Wright’s iconic design principles are brought to life in this small-but-mighty masterpiece.

Book About Frank Lloyd Wright's Stockman House

River City Society for Historic Preservation is pleased to announce the publication of The Story of Frank Lloyd Wright's Stockman House.

As the twentieth century began, Mason City, Iowa was transforming from its traditionally agricultural roots into a prosperous industrial center. At the same time, Frank Lloyd Wright was becoming known for his designs which were an intentional and significant departure from the European- derived, vertically-oriented houses of the era. For many, these new designs were too different from the norm. Others, however, were ready to embrace this dramatic new aesthetic.

The Stockmans were one such couple. Frank Lloyd Wright agreed to commission an adaptation of his $5,000 Fireproof House design for Dr. and Mrs. Stockman. This well-illustrated book shares the story of the Stockmans and their artistic house, which after continuous occupation from 1908 to 1986 was in real danger of being demolished. The historic structure was then rescued, moved, carefully restored, and opened as a house museum over the course of a few years. The move and restoration is a story of epic proportions in itself, with a group of dedicated and passionate volunteers successfully executing a professional and Herculean task.

Few if any original owners of Wright’s houses were the type to let the world pass them by. Upon George Stockman's death the Mason City Globe Gazette agreed, writing “The Stockmans were, like many of Wright’s clients, exceptional people.”

Request For Proposals For Sullivan’s Wainwright Building

The historic Wainwright Building in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, designed by Louis Sullivan and considered one of the first true office towers in the U.S., was recently sold for $8.25 million to the Arch to Park Equity Fund, a private equity firm. This sale raised concerns among preservationists about the building’s future.

Now, the firm has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting global submissions from developers, architects, and preservationists to transform the landmark into a vibrant community anchor, while respecting its architectural heritage. The ideal proposal must align with city planning guidelines, be practical, and provide significant neighborhood benefits.

The building, constructed in 1891, was previously used for state government offices until its sale, which helps fund a new government facility in suburban Chesterfield. Despite past threats of demolition and recent concerns about downtown crime, the equity firm is optimistic about the area’s growth, noting increased downtown population, major redevelopment projects, and improving safety.

Located near the Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium, the Wainwright Building is seen as a potential catalyst for further revitalization. Proposals are due by July 4 at 3:00 p.m. CST.

Razin Khan Brings Wright's St. Mark's Towers To Digital Life

Digital wizard, Razin Khan, recently shared some stunning 3D rendered images of an exciting unbuilt Wright project he's been working on for a while now: The trio of tower designs for St. Mark’s-in-the-Bouwerie. The pinwheel high rise design was conceived in the late 1920s, but never realized due to the Great Depression. It’s often seen as the conceptual predecessor to the Price Tower in Bartlesville, OK. The project was done in a collaboration with Razin's friend Steve Vinzani, who did the 3D modelling of the Towers.

Check out the drool-worthy images by following the link and be sure to explore Razin's portfolio of other amazing digital Frank Lloyd Wright and Bruce Goff architectural re-creations!

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