Frank Lloyd Wright is widely regarded as the greatest American architect of all time, which is why anything emerging from his atelier is of immense value. Case in point: the Double-Pedestal lamp, now headed to auction with an eye-watering estimate of $5 million. Designed in 1902 for the Susan Lawrence Dana House, the lamp reflects Wright’s signature philosophy, striking a harmonious balance between organic architecture and human habitation. This exquisite piece is one of only two known surviving examples, with the other residing in the Dana House collection since its acquisition in 1988.
Sotheby’s Modern Evening Auction on May 13 will offer collectors and connoisseurs a rare opportunity to splurge millions on what feels like a miniature house crafted by Wright himself. It’s a monumental moment: a chance to own a piece from the visionary who created the Guggenheim Museum in New York and has eight buildings listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
While acquiring a Wright-designed building may be a monumental endeavor, enthusiasts can start with the Double-Pedestal lamp, eerily reminiscent of the Dana House itself and a celebration of Japanese art. Crafted in bronze, the lamp pays homage to traditional Japanese building techniques, and its most striking feature is the vibrant glass panes.
At the top, it showcases the distinctive “sumac pattern”, a motif echoed throughout the Dana House, from interior furnishings to exterior friezes, according to Artnet. As Jodi Pollack, Sotheby’s Chairman and Co-Worldwide Head of 20th-Century Design, aptly stated: “As the last remaining example of this treasured icon to remain in private hands, this offering presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors and institutions to acquire one of the great masterpieces of our generation.”
