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Sales sample outside the gift shop at the Home & Studio

 

 

THE MIDWAY GARDENS SPRITES

 

The Midway Gardens Sprites are a favorite decorative item for FLW fans and building owners.  These elongated statues were designed for the now-demolished Midway Gardens entertainment facility (S.180) on Chicago’s South Side near the Robie House/University of Chicago area.  Sprites of various sizes are sold through catalogs and at the Ginko Tree store at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio. 

 

Several design variations exist.

 

The statues are also the source of a legendary dispute between Wright and the sculptor, Alfonso Iannelli.  To keep this story short, Iannelli claimed that he designed the sprites for Wright and was entitled to credit as the designer.  Wright, in a strongly worded letter, assured Iannelli that – while Iannelli no doubt believed his own story – history will show that Wright designed the sprites and Iannelli merely executed the design.  Needless to say, the two never worked together again.

 

 

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A sprite watches over the woods in Okemos, Michigan at the Edwards Residence (S.313)

 

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A variation at the Howard Anthony Residence (S.315)

in Benton Harbor, Michigan

 

 

New 10/31/2011

Revised 10/03/2012

 

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