View Frank Lloyd Wright’s Iconic Hat & Cane For a Limited Time at Taliesin West

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S HAT AND CANE

For a limited time through August 29, Frank Lloyd Wright’s hat & cane signature look from his wardrobe  are on display in a protected case in Taliesin West’s Kiva Theatre. Not only did Wright surround himself with beautiful things, he outfitted himself in handsome attire and was always well- dressed, whether the occasion was formal or more casual.

BUDDHIST ARTIFACTS

As a prolific Asian art collector, Wright’s collection included a significant number of Buddhist artifacts, which he thoughtfully placed within his spaces. During your visit at Taliesin West, find the “Buddha of the Future” in the Dining Cove, which is believed to have come from a cave temple of 5th- or 6th-century China; the small wooden Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of mercy and compassion, which keeps watch over the Garden Room; and the Studio Buddha, a quietly enigmatic, iron Buddha head from the Ming Dynasty, which Wright moved with the migration between Taliesin and Taliesin West and is now permanently displayed at the entrance to the Cabaret Theater.

PUEBLO POTTERY

The Pueblo peoples of the Southwest all have distinctive pottery styles that reflect their heritage and cultural traditions. Wright was attracted to the evolving art of Pueblo Pottery because he saw it as a fine example of how abstract designs could come together in beautiful patterns, and he began collecting pieces which are now on display in the Garden Room. Several Pueblos are represented in the works, including the Acoma and Zuni of New Mexico and the Hopi-Tewa of northern Arizona.

CHINESE SCREEN PAINTING

The most recent addition to the works of art on display in the Wright residence is the Chinese Screen Painting that for decades was a permanent fixture on the wall of the Dining Cove. Removed in the late 1980s in poor condition, this fascinating multi-media, eight-panel screen that depicts the birthday celebration of the Taoist immortal Queen Mother of the West was recently beautifully restored and reinstalled.

WOODEN FOLDING SCREENS

Wright’s two Wooden Folding Screens were created by talented Taliesin Fellowship graphic designers Eugene “Gene” Masselink and Allen “Davy” Lape Davison can be found in the Garden Room, one on each side of the fireplace. Both screens present stunning geometric patterns of form, line, and color, and are among a number of designs the artists crafted for Wright’s homes.