Frank Lloyd Wright's stained glass, art glass, and light screens

Although mainly known as an architect, Frank Lloyd Wright was also active in many related areas as well, including furniture design, graphics arts, and my favorite — his work with stained glass. He designed well over 4,000 art glass windows and doors for over 150 of his buildings. He often referred to them as light screens instead of windows. The major differences in Wright art glass design, compared to conventional art glass design, is that the designs heavily depend on the came configuration rather than the glass and that they often feature geometric abstractions of natural elements such as plants.

This page includes many photographs of this work, including windows for the Dana House, Heath House, Ennis House, Willits House, and many others. Be sure to scroll down through the entire page to see them all, or use the navigation bar at the upper right corner of this window to jump right to them.

Stained Glass Books

I hand-picked the books shown below. They each have a rating of at least 4 stars out of 5 by Amazon customers (or are unrated so far but are written by authors of related and well-reviewed books).

Frank Lloyd Wright

The books in this section show and describe Wright's use of art glass.

Light Screens : The Leaded Glass Windows of Frank Lloyd Wright
This 160 page hardcover book identifies three phases in Wright's evolution as a glass designer:
- 1885-1898, curvilinear Queen Anne-style motifs
- 1900-1910, lambent glass of autumnal palette and complex patterns of chevrons and rectangles
- 1911-1923, dancing triangles, primary colors, and exuberant asymmetries
Including illustrations made especially for this book, Sloan shows how Wright, in her words, expanded the frontiers of stained glass in both its use and its design. Light Screens also uncovers Wright's influences and presents invaluable insights on his writings about it, on how glass was made in his time, and on claims for his assistants\' authorship of certain designs. A concluding chapter, Beyond Leaded Glass, 1923-1959, surveys Wright's lifelong fascination with glazing and his continued exploration of the latest technologies.
Light Screens : The Complete Leaded Glass Windows of Frank Lloyd Wright
This 384 page hardcover book identifies three phases in Wright's evolution as a glass designer:
- 1885-1898, curvilinear Queen Anne-style motifs
- 1900-1910, lambent glass of autumnal palette and complex patterns of chevrons and rectangles
- 1911-1923, dancing triangles, primary colors, and exuberant asymmetries
Including illustrations made especially for this book, Sloan shows how Wright, in her words, expanded the frontiers of stained glass in both its use and its design. Light Screens also uncovers Wright\'s influences and presents invaluable insights on his writings about it, on how glass was made in his time, and on claims for his assistants' authorship of certain designs. A concluding chapter, Beyond Leaded Glass, 1923-1959, surveys Wright's lifelong fascination with glazing and his continued exploration of the latest technologies.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Glass Designs (Wright at a Glance)
This is one of the best selling books featured on this site!

This 57 page mini-book (32 of which are color photographs) explores many facets of the architect's work with glass, including his world-renowned art glass designs.

This is one of twelve books in the Wright-at-a-Glance series, which offer an overview of Wright's life, buildings, and designs.
Frank Lloyd Wright Glass
Hardcover, 176 pages. The 20th century's most influential architect utilized glass in a number of ways to distinguish his designs of churches, public buildings, and private residences. This comprehensive book traces Wright's innovative use of art glass in windows, lighting, interior décor, furnishings, and his famed Luxifer prisms, and provides a chronological, pictorial survey of the glass in each documented building designed by Wright.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Stained Glass & Lightscreens
(hard cover)
This 144 page exquisite hardcover representation of Frank Lloyd Wright's art glass is far more affordable than Heinz's more definitive 1994 book, Frank Lloyd Wright : Glass Art. In captivating color and well-researched commentary, Mr. Heinz captures the essence of Frank Lloyd Wright's genius.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Stained Glass & Lightscreens
(paperback)
This is a 144 page paperback representation of Frank Lloyd Wright's art glass that is far more affordable than Heinz's more definitive 1994 book, Frank Lloyd Wright : Glass Art. In captivating color and well-researched commentary, Mr. Heinz captures the essence of Frank Lloyd Wright's genius.
Frank Lloyd Wright : Glass Art
This 264 page hardcover book is lavishly illustrated and devotes itself to Wright's contribution to glass art.

This is considered the definitive book on this subject, which helps to explain the price.
The Lamps of Frank Lloyd Wright
With well over 100 illustrations and 9 pages of text, this book describes in detail how the lamps of Frank Lloyd Wright were built. Scale drawings and glass patterns of 16 lamps are included. Drawings identify came with cross sectional drawings and manufacturers stock numbers. Glass colors and stock numbers are also indicated on the drawings.

The Butterfly Chandelier, double pedestal and two single pedestal lamps and the familiar wall sconce from the Dana-Thomas House are described in detail. Also included are the bedroom lamp from the Little House (Peoria), the Cheney wall sconce, and the Robie dining room table lamp.
Stained Glass Window Designs of Frank Lloyd Wright (coloring book)
This is one of the best selling books featured on this site!

16 full-page designs, boldly outlined on translucent paper, adapted from window patterns in homes and buildings designed by Wright: Robie House, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, Coonley Playhouse, Dana House, Lake Geneva Inn, many others. Hang colored drawings in window or near other light source for glowing stained glass effects.
Art Glass Details : Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House
This is best described as a highly detailed glass pattern book. It contains thirty-five pages of precise drawings, detailing all of the art glass windows in the Hollyhock House. Located in Los Angeles, California this house was one of the last Wright houses that contained leaded art glass. This unconventional book features superb drawings to adequately describe these designs through both text and graphics.

Page numbers are keyed to a plan view of the house so that the reader can readily locate the different window designs in the house. An easy to read chart is included for the identification of glass and zinc came by stock number for each window.
Coonley Playhouse Pattern Book
This new pattern book describes in detail the Coonley Playhouse windows. It contains forty-two pages of drawings, detailing 39 original art glass windows from the Coonley Playhouse. Windows are shown in full color along with a detailed construction drawing of each.

Architectural drawings of the building include a plan view and several elevations showing window locations in color. A bibliography and a source for materials are included.
The Decorative Designs of Frank Lloyd Wright
Determined to create a completely integrated environment, Wright designed not only buildings, but furnishings, fixtures, appliances, decorative items and more. Noted architectural and design authority David Hanks has provided an informative, insightful text, along with over 200 line drawings and photos. This 272 page paperback features 219 black-and-white illus. 24 in full color. New preface by the author.

Mission and Prairie Style Patterns

The books in this section contain patterns for use in building your own creations based on Wright's designs or those of similar styles.

Prairie Art Glass Drawings
Volume 1
This 34 page book contains 20 scale line drawings of windows from houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. There is a description of the unique glass and came used and a picture of the special came cutting machine.

Twelve houses are represented. Drawings include windows from the Dana House, the Bradley House, the Martin House, the Robie House, the Coonley Residence and the Coonley Playhouse.
Prairie Art Glass Drawings
Volume 2
This 35 page book contains 21 scale line drawings of windows from houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. There is a description of the unique came used along with a chart showing the shape and stock numbers of the came used in the various windows.

Fourteen houses are represented. Drawings include windows from the Dana House, the Bradley House, the Martin House, the Robie House, the Frank Lloyd Wright Residence and the Lake Geneva Inn. Seven pages of the book are devoted to showing how the sizes of the windows were varied still keeping the basic design the same.
Prairie Designs for Stained Glass Windows
This is the best selling book featured on this site!

This 48 page book includes 56 original designs by Alex Spatz in the Prairie School of design, which was started by Frank Lloyd Wright. It has designs in circles, rectangles and free-form shapes, in varying complexities for hobbyists of different levels.
Prairie Designs II for Stained Glass Windows
This 40 page sequel includes 48 more original designs by Alex Spatz in the Prairie School of design, which was started by Frank Lloyd Wright. Like its predecessor, it features window designs in rectangles, circles and free-form shapes in a variety of complexities. It is different in that it develops motifs, such as triangles, in different ways and that it gives a prairie interpretation to real-life objects, such as flowers and plants.
Art Glass Details : Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House
This is best described as a highly detailed glass pattern book. It contains thirty-five pages of precise drawings, detailing all of the art glass windows in the Hollyhock House. Located in Los Angeles, California this house was one of the last Wright houses that contained leaded art glass. This unconventional book features superb drawings to adequately describe these designs through both text and graphics.

Page numbers are keyed to a plan view of the house so that the reader can readily locate the different window designs in the house. An easy to read chart is included for the identification of glass and zinc came by stock number for each window.
Coonley Playhouse Pattern Book
This new pattern book describes in detail the Coonley Playhouse windows. It contains forty-two pages of drawings, detailing 39 original art glass windows from the Coonley Playhouse. Windows are shown in full color along with a detailed construction drawing of each.

Architectural drawings of the building include a plan view and several elevations showing window locations in color. A bibliography and a source for materials are included.
Prairie Lamps
This 40 page book features 18 full-size original designs for 12 inch square lampshades by Alex Spatz in the Prairie School of design, which was started by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is meant to complement the window designs in the author's two books on prairie designs for stained glass windows. At the time it was published, there were no prairie style lamp bases in the industry in metal or wood, so the book has instructions for making a base of stained glass. Now there are lamp bases available in wood and metal for these shades.

Click on the logo above to view images from the book
Click on the book cover below to read reviews or purchase the book.

Quilts in the Tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright Book cover

Frank Lloyd Wright's art glass designs (1900-1923) inspired these quilts. Take a tour with Jackie Robinson as she guides you through construction of your own "Wright window" in fabric using machine piecing methods. Directions are included for eighteen projects.

Other items frequently bought by visitors to this site

390 Traditional Stained Glass Designs
This 80 page paperback features beautiful and varied patterns rendered directly from historic homes. The patterns are organized into five sections: Art Nouveau, Victorian Geometric, Victorian Floral, Edwardian and The Twenties.

There are patterns for all tastes and all skill levels, most of which lend themselves more properly to lead came than copper foil.
Mosaics: Prairie Art Glass Patterns
This 27 page plastic comb bound book is full size mosaic patterns designed for 8" x 8" and 16" x 16" standard molds. The designs are taken from windows and lamps designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
How to Work in Stained Glass (Paperback)
This 358 page paperback is 1998's new updated version of the first two editions that have been long considered the "bible" in stained glass since the opening of the crafts movement of the 60's and 70's. It opens with a brief history and description of types of glass to aid in selection for projects. The projects in the book can be done by following the detailed instructions with plenty of helpful information of how and why certain methods make a better glass item. The information contained in this book will make crafting glass easier and more enjoyable. The conversational style of writing makes this an easy read.
How to Make Mission Style Lamps and Shades
This 128 page paperback offers complete designs and instructions for making 18 authentic Mission lighting fixtures: chandeliers, reading lamps, droplights, desk lamps, dome fixtures, more. Complete, easy-to-follow instructions with measurements, illustrated with over 75 working drawings, diagrams and figures. No elaborate tools required. Minimal outlay for materials and equipment.

Other Frank Lloyd Wright Books

Stained Glass Links

Stained Glass Photographs

Click on one of the small images below to see a larger version.

Frank Lloyd Wright Studio
Oak Park, IL - 1898

Ceiling Light Screen

Susan Lawrence Dana House
Springfield, IL - 1902

Living Room Window
Door Detail
Dining Room Window

Heath House
Buffalo, NY - 1904

Copyright Byron Preiss Multimedia Company, Inc., 1994, used without permission. Photographer unknown.

Entry Ceiling Light Screen

Window

Martin House
Buffalo, NY - 1904

Frank Lloyd Wright designed over 60 different windows for the Martin House.
Each of the house's two floors have a different basic pattern for the window designs.