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Sternberg Mansion Bay Windows, Stolen & Recovered
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS:
These stained glass windows are not original to 1886 and are believed to have been installed during an extensive renovation to Sternberg Mansion in the early 1900s (about 1904 when it was then owned by the President of Kansas National Bank, W.S. Corbett). Many people have looked at these windows and commented that they appeared to be a Frank Lloyd Wright style and there is not yet, despite two expert examinations, confirmation that they are or not. There are several reasons to believe they might be F.L.W. (1867 - 1959) designs, the style is consistent with the middle period of F.L.W. career in which he made heavy use of "organic architecture", part of the Prairie School of Design. The organic architecture phase of F.L.W. career is what he is most well-known for. The Allen Lambe House in Wichita is one of the later F.L.W. prairie designs. The central theme of this organic architecture period was what F.L.W. called the "Tree of Life" - which took many stylized, highly geometric forms, but was essentially a tree usually represented by repeated geometric shapes at the top (representing leaves), long, thin lines under this representing the trunk and heavy, prominent shapes towards the bottom (but sometimes very small "dots), representing the root system. F.L.W. was well known for his use of iridescent pink, green and brown (of which this windows are almost entirely made). Repetition of shapes was common in F.L.W. windows as was the use of chevron shapes (an inverted 'V" shape). All of these elements are seen in these windows. The owners of the Mansion at the time certainly had the connections and the means to purchase FLW windows. F.L.W. was at the height of his career when these were designed. The owners of Sternberg Mansion were modernizing and updating and the geometric nature of these windows is out of character with the high ornamentation of the rest of the Mansion. Any confirmation on the design of these windows one way or the other has yet to be made. Expert opinion continues to be sought. See photos of known F.L.W. stained glass windows for striking similarities between these and confirmed F.L.W. designs.
In the 1975 while Sternberg Mansion was undergoing a restoration by the City of Wichita, thieves broke into Mansion and stole all 6 of these windows above. They were not damaged when they were removed. They were crated up, covered in blankets and being stored behind a convenience store at Central & Woodlawn in preparation for shipping when an anonymous tip to the police reported some unusual crates covered up by sheets behind a convenience store at Central & Woodlawn. The article that appeared in the newspaper about this on 11-13-1975 states,
"'Irreplaceable' stained glass windows stolen nearly four months ago from a historic Wichita home were recovered early this morning - apparently undamaged - behind a service station at Central and Woodlawn. Wrapped carefully in bedspreads and afghans, the windows were discovered following anonymous telephone calls about 1:30am from a woman to police, Urban Renewal Agency officials and The Beacon. The windows were taken in August from the W.H. Sternberg Home at 10th and Waco, the first URA historical renovation project and the first property to be considered for local landmark designation... The windows were the second recovery connected with the August theft. In September, the newel of the main staircase was recovered, and a juvenile boy was taken into police custody. Still missing are a chandelier from the middle parlor of the home and leaded glass doors from a built-in china cabinet... The Sternberg project is the first historical restoration program undertaken by the URA since it was granted power to do so in 1972. The three-story frame home was chosen both for its architectural and historic significance. Sternberg, a Wichita contractor who built many ofthe city's original government buildings and large family homes, unsed his home as a model incorporating all the design elements he could fabricate."
The stolen windows were then professionally re-installed back in their proper place within the Mansion. The theft of the windows made newpaper headlines and their recovery also made newspaper headlines. Reprints of those original newspaper articles are on display in the Mansion.
Your thoughts, comments, ideas, stories and additional information about this photo or this place are welcome and appreciated.
Sternberg Mansion Bay Windows, Stolen & Recovered
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS:
These stained glass windows are not original to 1886 and are believed to have been installed during an extensive renovation to Sternberg Mansion in the early 1900s (about 1904 when it was then owned by the President of Kansas National Bank, W.S. Corbett). Many people have looked at these windows and commented that they appeared to be a Frank Lloyd Wright style and there is not yet, despite two expert examinations, confirmation that they are or not. There are several reasons to believe they might be F.L.W. (1867 - 1959) designs, the style is consistent with the middle period of F.L.W. career in which he made heavy use of "organic architecture", part of the Prairie School of Design. The organic architecture phase of F.L.W. career is what he is most well-known for. The Allen Lambe House in Wichita is one of the later F.L.W. prairie designs. The central theme of this organic architecture period was what F.L.W. called the "Tree of Life" - which took many stylized, highly geometric forms, but was essentially a tree usually represented by repeated geometric shapes at the top (representing leaves), long, thin lines under this representing the trunk and heavy, prominent shapes towards the bottom (but sometimes very small "dots), representing the root system. F.L.W. was well known for his use of iridescent pink, green and brown (of which this windows are almost entirely made). Repetition of shapes was common in F.L.W. windows as was the use of chevron shapes (an inverted 'V" shape). All of these elements are seen in these windows. The owners of the Mansion at the time certainly had the connections and the means to purchase FLW windows. F.L.W. was at the height of his career when these were designed. The owners of Sternberg Mansion were modernizing and updating and the geometric nature of these windows is out of character with the high ornamentation of the rest of the Mansion. Any confirmation on the design of these windows one way or the other has yet to be made. Expert opinion continues to be sought. See photos of known F.L.W. stained glass windows for striking similarities between these and confirmed F.L.W. designs.
In the 1975 while Sternberg Mansion was undergoing a restoration by the City of Wichita, thieves broke into Mansion and stole all 6 of these windows above. They were not damaged when they were removed. They were crated up, covered in blankets and being stored behind a convenience store at Central & Woodlawn in preparation for shipping when an anonymous tip to the police reported some unusual crates covered up by sheets behind a convenience store at Central & Woodlawn. The article that appeared in the newspaper about this on 11-13-1975 states,
"'Irreplaceable' stained glass windows stolen nearly four months ago from a historic Wichita home were recovered early this morning - apparently undamaged - behind a service station at Central and Woodlawn. Wrapped carefully in bedspreads and afghans, the windows were discovered following anonymous telephone calls about 1:30am from a woman to police, Urban Renewal Agency officials and The Beacon. The windows were taken in August from the W.H. Sternberg Home at 10th and Waco, the first URA historical renovation project and the first property to be considered for local landmark designation... The windows were the second recovery connected with the August theft. In September, the newel of the main staircase was recovered, and a juvenile boy was taken into police custody. Still missing are a chandelier from the middle parlor of the home and leaded glass doors from a built-in china cabinet... The Sternberg project is the first historical restoration program undertaken by the URA since it was granted power to do so in 1972. The three-story frame home was chosen both for its architectural and historic significance. Sternberg, a Wichita contractor who built many ofthe city's original government buildings and large family homes, unsed his home as a model incorporating all the design elements he could fabricate."
The stolen windows were then professionally re-installed back in their proper place within the Mansion. The theft of the windows made newpaper headlines and their recovery also made newspaper headlines. Reprints of those original newspaper articles are on display in the Mansion.
Your thoughts, comments, ideas, stories and additional information about this photo or this place are welcome and appreciated.