Office chair, from the Larkin Company Administration Building, Buffalo, New York
(1904-1906)
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with the assistance of the T. H. Lustig and Moar Families, Governor, 1983
© Frank Lloyd Wright Estate/ARS, New York. Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
- Gallery location
- Mid 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Arts Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
In 1903 Frank Lloyd Wright was engaged to design an administration building in Buffalo, New York. It contained many innovations, in particular the enormous central court surrounded by balconies that introduced natural light into all parts of the building. Wright also introduced the concept of the open-plan office space and designed much of the furniture out of metal to address fire-hazard concerns. The perforated backrest of this office chair reflects the preoccupations of Wright and other designers of the time with the possibilities of grid-form geometry, and reveals his familiarity with contemporary design trends in Europe. The chair represents one of the first modern office chair designs, the functional elements of which have been continuously interpreted by designers ever since.
Artwork Details
punched in right side of caster of front left wheel: PAT NO. 1914204
punched in top of caster of front right wheel: BASSICK
punched in right side of caster of front right wheel: PAT NO. 1914204
punched in top of caster of rear left wheel: BASSICK
punched in right side of caster of rear left wheel: PAT NO. 1914204
punched in top of caster of rear right wheel: BASSICK
punched in right side of caster of rear right wheel: PAT NO. 1914204
Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with the assistance of the T. H. Lustig and Moar Families, Governor, 1983
© Frank Lloyd Wright Estate/ARS, New York. Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Level 2, NGV International