International Wood International Wood 2017 | Page 54

F R A N K L LOY D W R I G H T ’ S
TALIESIN LAMPS
ARE AS BEAUTIFUL AS EVER
Renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright looked to
nature for much of his inspiration. He incorporated
nature and natural elements very purposefully in
his architecture as well as his furniture, lighting and
home element creations.
A
mong Wright’s most celebrated pieces are a series of
suspended lighting pendants composed of rectangular
light boxes enveloped in walnut, cherry, maple, cypress or mahogany
wood casings. Innovative in their design, these lighting fixtures emit
a rare diffuse glow and provide comfortable indirect light without
the use of glass or shades. Taliesin lamps combine the organic beauty
of wood with the clean timeless lines of modern design. A closer look
reveals the engineering acumen that went into designing them.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation has licensed AlaModerna, a
consortium of craftsmen located in The Shoals, the flourishing arts
center of Northern Alabama, to replicate Wright’s original Taliesin
lamp designs.
AlaModerna artisans have been handcrafting heirloom furni-
ture, fireplace mantels, solid wood paneling and architectural moldings
for over 40 years. Just over a year ago the team took up the challenge
of creating Taliesin lamps based on Wright’s original designs, working
mainly with cherry and walnut. “We may work with other species in
the future,” said Scott Beggs, president of AlaModerna, president of
American Pacific, and past president of IWPA. “Wright himself often
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INTERNATIONAL WOOD