Frank Lloyd Wright

Wright Studies

Frank L. Smith Bank, Dwight, Illinois (1905) (S.111)

Frank L. Smith Bank Lanterns

Wright always intended a lantern to sit atop the entrance pedestals. The drawings below indicate what Wright originally designed for the bank in 1905. The original lanterns actually produced and placed atop the entrance pedestals were slightly different in 1906. “Correspondence and bills of sale in the Frank L. Smith Collection in The Burnham Library of The Art Institute of Chicago indicated that Lau made exterior lanterns identical to ones flanking the entrance gate of the E. C. Waller estate in River Forest, Illinois…” Hanks, page 207-208. The Waller gates were designed in 1901 (S.065). Wright would often use design elements from one building, in another. An example is the Baluster used in the Roloson Rowhouses (1894) and a similar one used in the Moore Residence (1895). Another is the same wall sconce used in the Little Residence, Peoria (1902) and in the Dana Residence (1902). This is evident when you look closely at the Smith Lantern. In essence the original lanterns lacked the “Name Plate” centered in the existing		lanterns today. When the “name plate” is removed, it is essentially the same design as the lantern at the Waller gate. Not only is the lantern consistent but also the stonework. A third similarity between the two projects is the design for the skylight and gate. The lanterns and light fixtures were manufactured by Willy H. Lau, W. H. Lau & Co., Chicago. The lanterns were manufactured from brass. “…on February 13, 1906, Lau wrote that he had the lanterns ready but was waiting to hear from Wright regarding the finish on the brass lanterns… As regarding the finish on the brass lanterns we would prefer to have Mr. Wright determine that…” Burnham Library, Hanks, page 23. According to Eric Stewart, a Vice President who works at the First National Bank of Dwight said, “The lanterns on the exterior were designed by Wright, but were not originally outside the bank. There are now two of the original lanterns outside and two originals inside.


Original side view drawing of the Frank L. Smith Bank, 1905. Wright always intended a lantern to sit atop the entrance pedestals. This drawing indicated what Wright originally designed for the bank.


Detail of original side view drawing indicates what Wright originally designed for the bank in 1905.


1: In this early image photographed by Gilman Lane between 1935-1941, the lanterns positioned atop the pedestals at the entrance look to be plain, and do not seem to be the same lanterns that are there today (see detail below). (Courtesy Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, The Art Institute of Chicago.)


1a: Detail from above image: The lanterns positioned atop the pedestals at the entrance look to be plain, and do not seem to be the same lanterns that are there today.

2: As you approach the bank and the entrance becomes apparent, the building grows in size. The lanterns were designed by Wright for the bank.

3: The entrance pedestals center on the column behind it. This is very consistent with how Wright diminished the size of his hallways. As you moved through the narrow hallways, the space you moved into gave the feeling of a much larger space.

4: Detail of the lantern atop the entrance pedestals. When the “name plate” is removed, it is essentially the same design as the lantern for the Waller gate.

5: The Waller gates were designed in 1901. The Winslow Residence can be seen in the background. (Photographed by Grant Manson.)

5a: Detail of image #4. The Winslow Residence can be seen in the background. (Photographed by Grant Manson.)

6: Not only are the lanterns consistent, but the stonework of the pedestals is also similar. (Photographed by Grant Manson.)

Repeat of #3 for comparison of the stonework.

6a: Detail. Not only are the lanterns consistent, but the stonework of the pedestals is also similar. (Photographed by Grant Manson.)


7: The Waller Gate Lantern today.

Frank L. Smith Bank Skylight and Waller Gate
Not only is there a similarity between the lantern and the stonework, but there is also a similarity in the design for the skylight and gate.


Basic design of the Frank L. Smith Bank skylight.		Basic design for the Waller Gate.


Detail of the Frank L. Smith Bank skylight.		Detail of the Waller Gate.

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