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I was very lucky this summer to have toured Frank Llyod Wright's Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin. The house and property are absolutely breathtaking. While on the tour of the main house I noticed a very unique box sitting on one of the tables and asked the tour guide about it. She said it was made for Frank Llyod Wright, by one of his students, to hold the architectural medals he had won. Now this was a fairly simple looking box that didn't have a lid or any finish on it but I loved it and was inspired to design "For Frank".

The five lift off boxes and the base in "For Frank" are made from Black Walnut with a Black Walnut Dowel used to strengthen the mitered joint . The large horizontal portions are made from bookmatched, quartersawn white oak. They are not hard mounted to the box sections, they actually "float". I designed a way to allow this float, to handle temperature/humidity changes, using a grove in the box and a spline to capture the panel. I will post a picture if I get a chance. The square holes where first cut with a mortiser. After that came the very time consuming action of rounding over all the edges. Thank god for rasps and detail sanding sticks! The vertical inlays are made from quartersawn Bocote and African Blackwood. The grain of the Bocote is continuous all the way up the box.

The base of the lid is made from quartersawn white oak. The top adornment is made from Bloodwood, Wenge and Curly Maple. I designed the pattern myself. Frank admired Japanese architecture so the large red "sun" worked nicely. I related dimensions mathematically where I could to make everything complement itself (1/2" wide pice, 1/2" wide space, 1/2" wide cutout, etc.).

There is no stain on the box. All the quartersawn white oak pieces got fumed using a homemade chamber and 26% ammonia. After 28 hours of fuming they were attached to the box sections and the entire box got three coats of clear Danish oil with 0000 steel wool in between. After two weeks of drying it got buffed twice with BriWax. The boxes are lined in a Cherokee Red fabric. This was Frank Llyod Wrights favorite color that he used on many of his homes. "For Frank" is 10" x 10" x 17.5".

Thanks for looking!

Gallery

Comments

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I love FLW designing and this is an incredible piece! You really did a great job on it and I truly enjoyed seeing it and reading your story. Great work! :)

Sheila
 

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467 Posts
This is an incredible piece. As soon as I saw it I thought of FLW. I think you captured the essence of FLW. Thanks for sharing, it makes me want to build some grand.
 

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this is quite a statement
for a man of incredible vision

your work is always so well done
it is truly an inspiration

i'm always in awe
of the gift you share with us

keep them coming please
 

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Wow love it!! very well done.
 

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387 Posts
Jeff,
Your designs and workmanship never disappoint.
Roger
 

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Jeff, what a fantastic and incredible piece of art you have created here my friend. I am almost embarrassed of the fact I don't know much about Mr Wright's work, but after seeing this… Well, its time to educate myself….lol

I got to say the top is my utmost favorite part of this work. I love how it draws your eyes to it and the rest of the box just fits into place from there. Very impressed bro!

You rock!
 

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A very nice tribute.
You captured a lot of things there.
Beautifully done - as always.

Steve
 

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This is simply an outstanding tribute to Mr. Wright. I love the materials selected, the craftsmanship and especially those vertically diminishing 'windows'. Definitely a 'Triumph' !
 

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What an incredible design, nice job.
 

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Jeff, what a box and what a talent you are. Creations like these inspire me to be more creative than I think I already am. I grew up close to Frank's Fallingwater in PA and that place is amazing!
 

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Beautiful piece, Jeff. You've caught the style perfectly.

Strangely the red part of the top piece makes me instantly think of ELP (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) but thats me.
 

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Beautiful job Jeff. Awesome design!
 

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Simply stunning in design and execution. Thanks for sharing all of your works with us.
 

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Amazing work and what a great peice of art! Bravo!!!!!!
 

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That is so nicely designed and executed Jeff. I think Frank would approve and applaud.
 

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You nailed the syle, Jeff… Absolutely a fantastic and stunning piece.
You're vision and craftsmanship continue to inspire and leave me in awe. Very well done once again!
 

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You have surely made a Very creative and beautiful piece of art. 1st, class all the way.
 

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This is an awesome piece Jeff…it's truly a "trophy" box!
 

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Always a treat to see one of your pieces. Beautiful.
 
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