Library Table

Like his Prairie School contemporaries, Frank Lloyd Wright drew upon the ideas of the English Arts and Crafts movement in formulating his own principles of architecture and design, beliefs that included an adherence to simplicity in design, a preference for straightforward construction methods, and the use of plain, high-quality materials. This library table, designed by Wright for the remodeling of the Charles E. Roberts House, contains the strong balance of horizontality and verticality characteristic of the Prairie School while accentuating the rich oak surface. Wright championed the importance of machinery to improve design; although this table is indebted to industrial production methods, the beading on the door suggests the hand of the craftsman.