
Completion of the last piece in the Hillside Theater restoration underway
Rebecca Hagen | Jan 16, 2025
From 2018 to 2024, the Hillside Theater at Taliesin underwent an extensive restoration. One of the collections highlights was the conservation of the two Chinese Buddhist Guanyin sculptures which flank the stage. We believe that these were originally part of a set of four statues owned by Frank Lloyd Wright, depicting various individuals working towards “awakening”, also known as Bodhisattvas.

Seated Guanyin of a Thousand Arms before and after conservation, artist unknown, 19th century, wood and paper, 45” x 39” x 25”, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Collections,1186.053.

Seated Guanyin before and after conservation, artist unknown, 19th century, wood and paper, 4.5” x 33.5” x 23.5”, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Collections,1186.054.
The sculptures were damaged by the 1952 fire that destroyed the Hillside Playhouse, leaving a blackened layer of soot on the painted paper surfaces. The conservators at the Midwest Art Conservation Center did a beautiful job cleaning and repairing the sculptures, revealing the subtle beauty that persists despite the fire damage. This project was made possible by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.

Coromandel Screen, front, artist unknown, 17-18th century, lacquer, wood, gold, copper alloy, 120” x 246”, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Collections, 1185.058.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is thrilled to announce that we’ve received National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects (NEA GAP) and E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation awards to complete the last piece in the Hillside Theater restoration. This Spring we will begin work on the 10-foot tall, 12-panel Chinese Coromandel folding screen which was displayed in the Hillside Drafting Studio and then Dana Gallery from 1942-1956, and then in the Theater when it reopened post-fire reconstruction in 1956.

Coromandel is a type of Chinese lacquerware in which wood is coated with black lacquer, imagery incised, and then detailed with colored lacquer, paint, or gilding. Stone or shell inlay or other fillers were often used to provide accent or to create a relief in the design. Coromandel Screen, detail, artist unknown, 17-18th century, lacquer, wood, gold, copper alloy, 120” x 246”, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Collections, 1185.058.

Receipt for purchase of Coromandel screen, Yamanaka & Co., January 30, 1942, ink on paper, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Collections.
The large, double-sided screen has an unusual design for its type, with palace scenes paying tribute to two dignitaries—a high ranking scholar and military commander—on both sides, rather than just one. The screen, believed to date to the Kangxi era (1662-1722), was made by an unknown artist and was purchased by Wright from Yamanaka & Co. on January 30, 1942, along with other Asian screens and sculptures.
Created more than 300 years ago and installed at Taliesin for over 80 years, the screen has experienced fading, loss, cracks, tenting, flaking, distortion, and minor surface damage, along with accumulated dirt and grime. The Conservation Center in Chicago will be addressing these condition issues by cleaning, repairing, in-painting areas of loss, and applying a coat of wax for additional protection. Stay tuned for updates on the conservation process!

Presentation in the Hillside Theater, unknown photographer,1959, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Collections, 5061.
Coromandel screen and Guanyin sculpture visible in top middle. The screen was installed at the entrance to the Theater to provide cover for late arrivals, and later for those using the restroom when the space was converted and the entrance moved.

Coromandel Screen, back, artist unknown, 17-18th century, lacquer, wood, gold, copper alloy, 120” x 246”, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Collections, 1185.058.
If you visited Hillside Theater this year, you might be surprised to learn that Foundation staff created a 1:1 reproduction of the screen using high-resolution photographs. This convincing replica was built by our preservation team and will be on display until the original screen can be returned post-conservation in Summer 2026.

Reproduction Coromandel screen built by Foundation Preservation staff using high-resolution photographs mounted to an aluminum composite, Dibond.
This project is supported in part by awards from the SC Johnson Foundation, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.