Wright Chat

272Sylvan · Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 49 Location: Glencoe, Illinois

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IMG_1883 by 272Sylvan, on Flickr[/img]

I'd like to have copies of this light fixture made. Can anyone suggest a contractor / vendor / craftsperson who could do this?

Thanks!
Maggie (Charles Perry House)

Wrightgeek · Joined: 07 Jan 2005 Posts: 1548 Location: Westerville, Ohio

If you contact either the Westcott House, or our own "pharding" or "outside in", I'm sure they can direct you to those who are able to make very authentic reproductions of the fixtures you are looking to replace. Good luck with your project.

outside in · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 792

Archistoric.com ( doug seaman) bought out wilmer snow's lighting company in 2003, and also talk to Paul at New Metalcrafts - both are in Chicago and are able to reproduce the fixtures.

pharding · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:03 pm Post subject:

The company that did the Westcott House fixtures is having a very difficult time financially and is rather undependable. I have two fine sources for custom fixtures. The challenge that you will face is that the cast base will require a mold in order to do the casting. One fixture will be rather expensive. You may wish to consider having several fixtures made at the same time.
_________________
Paul Harding FAIA Owner and Restoration Architect for FLW's 1901 E. Arthur Davenport House, the First Prairie School House in Chicago | www.harding.com | LinkedIn

StephenArthur · Joined: 26 Jul 2012 Posts: 5 Location: Southern California

I would like to have the same fixtures reproduced for my Prairie home.

Oak Park Jogger · Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 35

I'c tried to find a source also, and the quotes I received were just too high for our prairie style house. I can't believe Rejuvenation doesn't make something like this!!! For a reasonable price we'd be interested.

StephenArthur · Joined: 26 Jul 2012 Posts: 5 Location: Southern California

I would need 8 of them. Who knows? Maybe we could create a group order and get a rate.

Oak Park Jogger · Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 35

So I sent a picture of your fixture to Rejuvenation--let's see what they say!

272Sylvan · Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 49 Location: Glencoe, Illinois

Thank you all for your helpful responses.

Regarding the number of fixtures, I have only two originals in the house. I would need roughly 20 fixtures if I was going to replace all of the wall sconces that are missing. Obviously cost will factor into this.

Regarding Rejuvenation, I also had hoped they would have a similar fixture. Some sconces are available from various vendors that have a square base, but none have the bulb pointing straight out. All have either a downward (or upward depending how you install it) light bulb with a glass shade. I could not find anyone that makes a simple fixture with a flat base. Look for example at Arroyo Craftman's "Ruskin" #RS-1 or Rejuvenations "Pacific City". I will inquire with both companies about whether they could modify their stock fixture to have a horizontal stem.

I'd be willing to go in on a group order. That would certainly make it more cost effective for all of us.

I'll check with both of outsidein's sources. pharding, could you give me the names of your sources?

Roderick Grant · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 3950

Contact the Stockman House in Mason City. They have a similar fixture. Perhaps they need more and would be interested in joining your group.

StephenArthur · Joined: 26 Jul 2012 Posts: 5 Location: Southern California

I'll be very interested in hearing a response from Rejuvenation. I brought photos to the Los Angeles store and although the very nice staff wondered whether the fixtures might be too minimalist, stark and niche market.

Perhaps a group order would be a great boon for us all. Optimistically standing by. Thank you all.

Stephen

outside in · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 792

I noticed that the Brass Light Gallery in Milwaukee produced the light fixtures for the Systems Built Homes, and they are similar to the one shown:

http://www.newclassicsbrasslight.com/Frank-Lloyd-Wright-Home-Restoration-Feature-s/1774.htm

There may be copyright issues involved, but I'm sure you could either buy the Systems built sconce (which is certainly appropriate) or have your exact lights duplicated by them.

SDR · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 8035 Location: San Francisco

Although I suspect that even frosted-glass lamps (bulbs) were in the future when these fixtures were originally installed, the light produced might be made more acceptable -- to today's user -- if dimmers were installed on the circuits serving these lights. Would Wright purists disdain such (subtle) improvements ?

SDR

egads · Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 623 Location: Long Beach CA

One could probably bury a dimmer control module in the box behind these (seemingly) individually pull chain operated fixtures. One can control such things with a remote (or even an app) Such an approach leaves all the existing in place. One can even do this and leave the old push button switches. I have even heard of systems that can use old push button switches to activate lighting scenes. I can tell you that many, if not most of the Schindler, Neutra, Gregory Ain, A Q Jones etc restored houses I have toured here in So Cal have flush whole house audio speakers in them. I'm so glad my own house is just MCM & kind of cool but not historical so I can just put in Decora dimmers.

I imagine that lamps (bulbs) of that vintage were probably not very high wattage compared with today. A modern 40-60 watt bulb dimmed would
look more correct.

Roderick Grant · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 3950

When replicating the Barnsdall living room furniture, we noticed on a period photograph (dimly) that the light boxes atop the torchieres had toggle switches on the south face. I advocated including them (even if non-operational, since they would not pass current code), but was overruled. You either restore or remodel.