Chair model "Peacock" (set of 4 available)
Commissioned for the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
Japan, 1921–1922
Oak frame with oil cloth upholstered seat and backrest
Measurements
39,5 x 48,5 x 96,3h cm
15,5 x 19,1 x 37,9h in
Provenance
Private Collection, Tokyo
Details
Designed for the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
Back of chair with aluminium metal label impressed 425
Literature
Cary, James. Frank Lloyd Wright: The Imperial Hotel, Phaidon
Giuliana Gramigna, Repertorio del Design Italiano 1950–2000, Allemandi, 2011, p. 90
Catalogue Essay, Phillips Auction
About
Originally conceived for the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, the Peacock chair by Frank Lloyd Wright stands as a powerful symbol of the architect’s vision of unified design. Commissioned in the 1910s, the project allowed Wright to develop every detail of the hotel—from architectural innovations to furnishings—marking a transition in his career from Prairie-style to a more sculptural and integrated approach that would define his concept of Organic Architecture.
The chair’s distinctive hexagonal backrest draws from Japanese visual culture and architectural motifs found throughout the hotel, merging Eastern influences with Wright’s modernist principles. Though chairs were not traditionally used in Japanese interiors at the time, this model represents the cultural exchange between Japan and the West in the early 20th century.
Functional and poetic, the Peacock chair was featured in multiple public areas of the hotel, from the theatre to the central parlour, and became an emblematic part of the building’s identity. Following the hotel’s partial demolition in the late 1960s, surviving examples of this chair were preserved in international museum collections, where they continue to be celebrated as rare testaments to Wright’s holistic design philosophy.
Biography
Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was a visionary American architect known for revolutionizing modern design with his philosophy of organic architecture—creating structures that harmonize with their natural surroundings. With over 1,000 designs, his work reshaped residential and commercial architecture, emphasizing open spaces, natural materials, and seamless integration with the environment.
Among his most celebrated works is Fallingwater (1935), a masterpiece that appears to float above a waterfall, perfectly blending architecture with nature. The Guggenheim Museum in New York (1959) redefined museum design with its bold, spiraling form. His Prairie-style homes, like the Robie House (1910), introduced open floor plans and horizontal lines that influenced modern housing. Other iconic projects include the Johnson Wax Headquarters (1936), with its futuristic Great Workroom, and Taliesin West (1937), his personal desert retreat and school in Arizona.
Wright’s journey began with engineering studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, though he left before graduating. His early career was shaped under Louis Sullivan, the father of skyscrapers, from whom he embraced the idea that “form follows function.” Wright later founded the Taliesin Fellowship, where he mentored future generations of architects.
His impact was recognized with prestigious honors, including the AIA Gold Medal (1949) and the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture (1941). In 2019, eight of his masterpieces were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, cementing his legacy as one of history’s greatest architects. Wright’s influence continues to shape modern design, inspiring architects to blend innovation, beauty, and nature into their creations.
