Documentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of the Interior Finishes of Frank Lloyd Wright's Heller House
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University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation 2000 Documentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of the Interior Finishes of Frank Lloyd Wright's Heller House Zana Cecelia Wolf University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Part of the Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons Wolf, Zana Cecelia, "Documentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of the Interior Finishes of Frank Lloyd Wright's Heller House" (2000). Theses (Historic Preservation). 372. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/372 Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Wolf, Zana Cecelia (2000). Documentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of the Interior Finishes of Frank Lloyd Wright's Heller House. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/372 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Documentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of the Interior Finishes of Frank Lloyd Wright's Heller House Disciplines Historic Preservation and Conservation Comments Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Wolf, Zana Cecelia (2000). Documentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of the Interior Finishes of Frank Lloyd Wright's Heller House. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/372 A, ?ii^4> UNIVERSITYT PENNSYLVANIA. UBKARIE5 DOCUMENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF THE INTERIOR FINISHES OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S HELLER HOUSE Zana Cecelia Wolf A THESIS in Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE 2000 Su|3(ervisbr Reader / Franl^e^^Matero Gail Caskey Winkler, PhD Associate Professor of Architecture Lecturer in Historic Preservation GrWu^ Group Chair Frank G. Matero Associate Professor of Architecture h^cAasJA/A/ 02,(^000 IW?^'^ UNIVERSITY PEN^i3vi\/AN!A ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere thanks and appreciation go to the following people: Judith Bromley and Serafino Garella, for their enthusiasm and interest, and for making this project possible. Frank G. Matero, my advisor, for his thoughtful advice and direction. Gail Caskey Winkler, my reader, for her careful suggestions and ideas. Robert Furhoff, for his unending generosity and valuable work in the field. Rynta Fourie, for her advice, helpful instruction, and wonderful sense of humor. Beth Price, for her time and interest in this project. Suzanne Hyndman, for her warmth and encouragement. To my classmates, especially Deb Lavoie, Nuanlak Watsantachad, and Claudia Cancino, for making this an enjoyable year. To Robert Hassett, for his understanding and support. To Tiffany Sebastian and Nicole McPike, for their unending encouragement. To my loving family, for their constant support, encouragement, and welcome advice. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page I Acknowledgements ii Table of Contents iii List of Figures vi List of Tables ix Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Frank Lloyd Wright and the Heller House 3 1 . Description of the Heller House 3 1 .2 History of the Heller House 24 1.2.1 Isidore and Ida Heller 24 1.2.2 Chain of Title 25 1.3 Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1890s 26 1.4 Frank Lloyd Wright and Contemporary Interior Design 28 Chapter 2 Finish Context and History 30 2.1 Finishes Analyses of Contemporary Frank Lloyd Wright Interiors 30 2.2 Interior Design literature of the Heller House Period 40 2.3 Finish Literature of the Heller House Period 45 2.3.1 Paint 45 2.3.2 Wood finishes 54 2.3.3 Sand-float plaster 55 Chapter 3 Site Investigation Techniques 57 3.1 Archival and Site Documentation 61 3.2 Finish Investigation and Sampling 63 Chapter 4 Analytical Techniques 67 4.1 Paint Layer Documentation 67 4.2 Original Finish Color Investigation 71 4.2.1 Color Matching 74 4.3 Finish Classification 78 4.3.1 Solubility Testing for Binding Media Analysis 81 4.3.2 Fluorescence Microscopy for Binding Media Analysis 83 4.3.3 Infrared Spectroscopy for Binding Media Analysis 86 4.4 Pigment Identification 94 4.4.1 Visible and Polarizing Light Microscopy 94 4.4.2 Infrared Spectroscopy for Pigment Identification 98 4.4.3 Scanning Electron Microscopy for Pigment Identification 103 4.5 Plaster Classification 111 4.5.1 Visual Description 113 4.5.2 Particle Size Analysis 114 4.5.3 X-Ray Diffraction for Plaster Characterization 116 Chapters Conclusions I^Q 5.1 Summary of Interior Finishes 119 5.1.1 Original Plaster 119 5.1.2 Original Wall Paints 119 5.1.3 Original Wall Pigments 121 5.1.4 Wood Finishes 121 5.1.5 Interior Color Schemes 122 5.1.6 Later Finish Layers 124 5.1.7 Wright's Intentions 124 5.2 Recommendations for Restoration 125 5.3 Recommendations for Further Study 126 Appendices ^^^ Appendix A Archival Information 129 Appendix B Cross-sectional Photomicrographs 137 Appendix C Pigment Dispersions 170 Appendix D Scanning Electron Microscopy 174 Appendix E Stratigraphy Sheets 191 Bibliography 260 270 Index 1 LIST OF FIGURES Chapter 1 Frank Lloyd Wright and the Heller House Figure 1.1 The Isidore Heller House, east facade 3 Figure 1 .2 Entrance to the Heller House, south elevation 5 Figure 1.3 First floor plan of the Heller House 7 Figure 1 .4 Second floor plan of the Heller House 8 Figure 1 .5 Third floor plan of the Heller House 9 Figure 1 .6 Colonette on the third story loggia 10 Figure 1 .7 Detail of the maiden from the Heller House frieze 1 Figure 1.8 North Side of the living room 12 Figure 1.9 Historic photograph of the hall 14 Figure 1.10 Dining room, north side 14 Figure 1.11 Drawing and details of the Heller House 17 Figure 1.12 Heller House, north facade 18 Figure 1.13 Art glass v\/indow in the stair hall 19 Figure 1.14 Bedroom art glass windov\/ 20 Figure 1.15 Restored fireplace in master bedroom 21 Figure 1.16 Master bedroom before fireplace restoration 21 Figure 1.17 Attic play room, north elevation 22 Chapter 2 Finish Context and History Figure 2.1 Parson's Washable Distemper Paint Card, 1908 51 Figure 2.1 Johnston's Patent Kalsomine and Fresco Paints, 1890 52 Figure 2.3 Adams and Elting Co. Hygienic Kalsomine, 1909 53 Figure 2.4 Adams and Elting Co. Hygienic Kalsomine, 1909 53 Chapter 3 Site Investigation Techniques Figure 3.1 Heller House first floor plan with room numbers 58 Figure 3.2 Heller House second floor plan with room numbers 59 Figure 3.3 Heller House third floor plan with room numbers 60 Figure 3.4 Room description sheet used during site visit 61 Figure 3.5 Photo log used during site visit 62 91 Chapter 4 Analytical Techniques Figure 4.1 Stratigraphy sheet used during microscopic examination 69 Figure 4.2 Cross-sectional photomicrograph of sample 2.05-3 70 Figure 4.3 Photograph of the living room 72 Figure 4.4 Photograph of the dining room alcove 72 Figure 4.5 Cross-sectional photomicrograph of sample 1.04-1 74 Figure 4.6 Cross-sectional photomicrograph of sample 1.03-2 79 Figure 4.7 Photomicrograph of surface of sample 1 .04-1 79 Figure 4.8 Cross-sectional photomicrograph of sample 2.05-4 80 Figure 4.9 Water solubility of sample 1 .03-2, 1 .04-1 ,1.12-1 82 Figure 4.10 Cross-sectional photomicrograph of sample 1.04-4 85 Figure 4.1 FTIR spectra of sample 1 .04-1 indicating protein 89 Figure 4.12 FTIR spectra of sample 1.03-2 indicating starch 90 Figure4.13 FTIR spectra of sample 1.12-1 indicating gum 91 Figure 4.14 FTIR spectra of sample 1.14-1 indicating wax 92 Figure 4.15 FTIR spectra of sample 1 .08-3 indicating resin 93 Figure 4.16 Photomicrograph of reflective material from sample 1.04-1 96 Figure 4.17 Photomicrograph of McCrone reference quartz sample 96 Figure 4.18 Photomicrograph of yellow pigments from sample 1.03-2 97 Figure 4.1 Photomicrograph of reference sample of yellow ochre 97 Figure 4.20 FTIR spectra of pigments in sample 1 .04-1 99 Figure 4.21 FTIR spectra of sample 1.04-1 indicating quartz 100 Figure 4.22 FTIR spectra of sample 1.03-2 indicating goethite 101 Figure 4.23 FTIR spectra of sample 1.12 indicating barite 102 Figure 4.24 EDS spectra of metallic layer in sample 1 .04-6 1 04 Figure 4.25 EDS spectra of metallic layer in sample 1.12-5 105 Figure 4.26 EDS spectra of red paint in sample 1.12-1 1 06 Figure 4.27 Scanning electron image of metallic layer in sample 1.04-6 108 Figure 4.28 EDS spectra of metallic layer in sample 1 .04-6 1 09 Figure 4.29 Electron dot map of sample 1 .04-6 1 1 Figure 4.30 Photomicrograph of sand float plaster 111 Figure 4.31 Photomicrograph of scratch coat and finish coat 112 Figure 4.32 Photomicrograph of finish plaster coat 112 Figure 4.33 Particle size distribution 115 Figure 4.34 XRD spectrum of sample 2.06-1 finish coat plaster 117 Figure4.35 XRD spectrum of sample 1.13-1 plaster binder 118 Chapter 5 Conclusions Figure 5.1 Cross-sectional photomicrograph of sample 2.12-1 120 LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Pre-1910 Wright Interior Finishes 39 Table 3.1 Heller House Finish Sample List 64 Table 4.1 Heller House Paint Colors 75 Table 4.2 Solubility testing of Selected Heller House Samples 82 Table 4.3 Testing for Secondary Fluorescence 86 Table 4.4 Samples Investigated with FTIR for Binder Identification 87 Table 4.5 Pigment identification through Sample Dispersion 95 Table 4.6 Pigment Identification through Electron Dot Mapping 107 Table 4.7 Plaster Types founding Each Room 113 Table 4.8 Sieve Analysis 115 INTRODUCTION Frank Lloyd Wright is quite possibly the most widely known and most studied of American architects.