Photos from Flint Faience's History

Frank Lloyd Wright, an iconic American architect, designer, writer, and educator, is celebrated for his profound influence on architectural and philosophical discourse. His extensive body of work includes approximately 1,000 structures, with about 400 realized projects, epitomizing his philosophy, as notably seen in Fallingwater, designed in the 1930s. Wright's concept of 'Simplicity' is crucial to understanding his approach, which he described as a "spiritual thing to comprehend." This enduring legacy means many of his works are open to the public, and his private residential designs continue to be inhabited. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy has recently highlighted seven of his properties that are currently available for sale, offering a unique opportunity to own a piece of architectural history. Among these is the Norman Lykes House in Phoenix, Arizona, designed in 1959. This unique circular home, featuring rounded windows, custom built-in furniture, and a crescent-shaped pool, is perched on a mountain, offering a 180-degree view of Phoenix. The property is currently available for co-ownership. The Fawcett House, located in Los Banos, California, was designed in 1955 and sits on 76 acres. It underwent a significant restoration in 2012, led by architect Arthur Dyson with involvement from Lynn Fawcett Whiting (the owner's daughter), Eric Lloyd Wright (Frank Lloyd Wright's grandson), and Cornelia Brierley (Wright's interior designer for the home). A notable feature is a shallow, circular flower planter, a design element typical of Wright's earlier works. The Eppstein House in Galesburg, Michigan, designed in 1948, is part of "The Acres" community. This mid-century Usonian-style residence, constructed with distinctive textile blocks, has been fully renovated and is available for both sale and overnight accommodation. Its kitchen features a high ceiling and skylight, and the house retains original Frank Lloyd Wright furniture alongside other period pieces. Marika Broere and Tony Hillebrandt were instrumental in its restoration. The Winn House in Kalamazoo, Michigan, completed in 1950, is the last Wright-designed house built in its neighborhood. It embodies Wright's signature open floor plan, expansive windows, and custom-built furniture, with a curving facade that harmonizes with the site's topography. It includes three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a patio, a porch, a fireplace, and a glazed balcony. The Hickox House in Kankakee, Illinois, dating back to 1900, is an early example of Wright's Prairie-style architecture. It features flared roof ridges inspired by Japanese architecture and geometric patterns. The interior boasts a spacious, well-lit entryway with built-in seating and leaded glass bands across the bay windows, blending the indoors with the natural environment. The design integrates elements from Wright's articles "A Home in a Prairie Town" and "A Small House with Lots of Room in It," with white plaster exterior walls and stained woodwork, and sand-finished interior walls. The Richard Lloyd Jones House in Tulsa, Oklahoma, designed in 1929, is distinct from other Wright designs. It features alternating columns of block and glazing that create a unique interplay of light within the interior. The exterior is marked by several glazed, two-story elements. The house has five bedrooms and five bathrooms. After Jones's death, architect M. Murray McCune updated the residence in 1965, and it remains one of only three Wright structures in Oklahoma. Finally, the Site of Oboler Estate in Malibu, California, originally featured the Arch Oboler Complex, which was destroyed in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. This 100-acre property now holds the remnants of structures built from Wright's designs, including the "Eaglefeather Compound," a primary living space converted from an initial gatehouse, stable, and carport, and named after an unconstructed 1940 design for the Obolers. #FrankLloydWright #ArchitecturalHistory #UsonianHomes #PrairieStyle #MidCenturyArchitecture #HistoricProperties #LuxuryRealEstate #ArchitecturalPreservation #IconicHomes

A couple embarking on a home renovation project in their 108-year-old American Foursquare house made an unexpected and intriguing discovery in their attic. The house, built in 1914, was purchased in probate, and the previous owners, who were hoarders, left behind an extensive collection of belongings. The couple, identified as Reddit user u/_planties and her husband, had to sift through over 3,000 square feet of items left in the house after the former owners’ family only requested a small tote of family photos. Amidst this vast collection, they uncovered a box filled with Victorian-era photographs, dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. The initial excitement of finding such historical artifacts soon turned to a chilling realization as they examined the photographs more closely. The couple began to suspect that some of the individuals depicted in the photos might have been deceased when their portraits were taken. This theory stems from the Victorian-era practice of post-mortem photography, also known as “mourning tableaux.” This custom involved photographing the recently deceased in lifelike poses, often with their families or cherished possessions, and sometimes even applying color to their faces to simulate vitality. This practice allowed families to immortalize their loved ones and served as a form of remembrance during a time of high mortality rates. The Redditor shared her findings across various subreddits, including r/Antiques and r/OldSchoolCool, where the discovery quickly gained significant attention, accumulating hundreds of upvotes and comments. Other users expressed their fascination and a touch of envy, acknowledging the historical value and unique nature of the find. Many described the collection as an “incredible find” and “wonderful little pieces of history,” lamenting the common fate of such old photographs being sold off without context or appreciation. The couple has expressed their intention to celebrate these individuals rather than letting their images be forgotten or discarded. The identity of the people in the photographs remains a mystery, but u/_planties plans to connect with the grandson of the house's original builder to see if he can recognize anyone. Until the subjects can be identified, and potentially reunited with their descendants, the couple plans to honor them by displaying the photos within their renovated home. They envision creating a gallery wall along one of their two staircases, utilizing approximately 30 old frames they salvaged from the house during the initial clean-out. This thoughtful approach aims to preserve the legacy of these unknown individuals, ensuring their stories continue to resonate within the walls of the century-old house. #HomeRenovation #VictorianEra #AntiquePhotography #HistoricalFind #OldHouse #FamilyHistory #PostMortemPhotography #RedditDiscovery #HomeDecor

Frank Herfort, a German photographer, embarked on his 'Russian Fairy Tales' series in 2005 as his thesis project while studying photography and visual communication in Hamburg. His initial encounters with Russia date back to 2000, but it was his commercial assignments for advertising and magazines that truly immersed him in the country's unique architectural and interior aesthetics. Herfort observed a profound sense of transformation reflected in the homes and public spaces across Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He was particularly drawn to public interiors where people were captured in moments of waiting, such as train stations, post offices, and metro stations, as well as new establishments like cafes and museums that symbolized a shift in the societal order. Herfort's photographic approach involves using public spaces as authentic stages for real-life narratives, distinguishing his artistic work from his commercial assignments. He often uses a tripod, which allows for a slower, more deliberate photographic process, ensuring that his images capture the authenticity of the scene without artificial additions or removals. This method results in photographs that convey a sense of ambiguity, featuring ghostly museums, frozen landscapes, and opulent restaurants, all inhabited by individuals whose postures and expressions range from determined to subtly emotional. The architecture itself plays a significant role in each photograph, acting as a silent witness to historical upheaval and a symbol of Russia's rapid modernization. The article highlights ten specific interiors from Herfort's extensive collection, each telling a unique story. 'Dreaming,' 2015, depicts four young police officers in the psychology room of the Suvorov Military Academy in Grozny, undergoing relaxation therapy. The surreal juxtaposition of their military attire and serene expressions against a green-washed, neon-lit room with tropical light boxes creates a quirky yet poignant scene. In 'Elephant I,' 2005, the director of Moscow’s Zoological Museum is shown alongside a massive taxidermied elephant in the ticket office, an unexpected placement due to the animal's size. The image evokes a sense of surreal beauty, with the woman's elegant pose contrasting with the gargantuan specimen. 'Conservation,' 2014, features a museum guard taking a break by a portable heater amidst a wood-heavy interior, with the visible Soviet architecture providing a stark backdrop. 'Doctor’s Consultation,' 2010, captures a patient awaiting a prescription in a sparsely decorated, time-frozen treatment room during a harsh Russian winter. 'Encyclopedia,' 2013, shows an archivist in a library, framed by impossibly large windows that infuse the office with a church-like solemnity, highlighting the vastness of knowledge contrasted with individual focus. 'Missed,' 2011, showcases a lone dog in a colorful Stalin-era stairwell, finding warmth and harmony in an otherwise cold and generic architectural setting. 'Russian Soul,' 2005, reveals the opulent VIP room of the Kazansky railway station, where 19th-century extravagance merges with modern consumerism, offering a quaint waiting experience. 'The Mission,' 2005, presents an intriguing dialogue between a traveler's package and a marble sculpture, symbolizing the shift from communal ownership to consumerism in post-Soviet Russia. 'Pink,' 2015, captures a security guard in a vibrant, neon-pink restaurant in Grozny, his somber presence contrasting with the flamboyant interior and the fish rotating in aquarium columns. Finally, 'Orthodox Bistro,' 2018, depicts women enjoying beverages in a contemporary church cafe, challenging traditional norms by showing a social-media-famous Orthodox priest waitressing, signifying a blend of religious tradition with modern life. These images collectively provide a compelling visual narrative of Russia's evolving identity through its diverse interiors and the people who inhabit them. #FrankHerfort #RussianFairyTales #Photography #InteriorPhotography #PostSovietRussia #ArchitecturalPhotography #EtherealInteriors #DocumentaryPhotography #CulturalTransformation