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original museum quality late 19th century intricately designed fret-sawn pine wood exterior eave panel removed in 1984 from the isidore h. heller residence located in hyde park (chicago, il). the unique geometric floral abstraction represents a turning point in wright's shift to geometric, prairie school architecture (defined by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands, and an integration with the landscape, which is meant to evoke native prairie surroundings). traces of the original paint finish remains intact. the 1897 isidore h. heller house was designed by architect frank lloyd wright. the design demonstrates wright's shift away from emulating the style of his mentor, louis sullivan. richard bock, a wright collaborator and sculptor, provided some of the ornamentation, including a plaster frieze on the third floor. little is known about isidore h. heller and his family, but what is known has been compiled through personal interviews as well as census and county records. heller purchased land in the hyde park area of chicago from jonas hamburger in 1895 and commissioned frank lloyd wright to design the house in 1896. a building permit was issued on july 13, 1897. william adams was named as the builder. in 1906, the lot was enlarged when heller purchased an additional 25 feet to the north of his original plot. the hellers lived in the house for about 16 years, until the death of ida heller in 1909. when frank lloyd wright designed the heller house in 1896, it marked his move away from styles that were popular into an era of geometric and highly modern designs. wright's design exhibits the influence of wright's mentor, louis sullivan, and demonstrates wright's move towards prairie school homes which would epitomize much of his early work. sullivan's influence can also be seen in the floral pattern of the richard bock plaster frieze on the home's third floor. during the 1970's, "restoration" work in the form of sandblasting, destroyed much of the detail on the frieze. the rectangular house was built with indiana limestone, and yellow roman brick, which emphasizes the geometric and horizontal nature of the home's exterior. the house was constructed on a narrow lot, so the main entryway is located on the side of the building, similar to wright's warren mcarthur house of 1892. the south side entrance was adorned with classical detailing and the cantilevered entry lintel, which sits on two ornately detailed stone columns, was decorated with quatrefoils which were set on a stone panel. the front room is not split by a corridor or side hall, making it more spacious. the heller house was frank lloyd wright's first work in the hyde park neighborhood of chicago, an area that was influenced by the gothic revival work of henry ives cobb. wright's robie house is six blocks from the heller house, and the blossom house and mcarthur house are nearby, in kenwood. the design of the heller house was unlike any other home in chicago at the time it was built and was called wright's most "outrageous" design. the panel measures 38 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches.
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very rare c. 1897 heller house fret-sawn pine wood exterior eave trim panel
SKU:
UR-9512-11
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