Playroom Piano

Frank Lloyd Wright's Steinway piano installed in the playroom.
Collection of the FLWPT.

A Steinway baby grand piano that was originally purchased by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Home and Studio was recently donated by Wright’s great-granddaughters in memory of David and Gladys Wright. This cherished possession of the Wright family traveled from the David Wright residence in Scottsdale, Arizona, made a brief stop in Geneva, Illinois for planned restoration, and then was carefully installed in the children’s playroom of the Oak Park home.

After hours of negotiating stairs and turns, the piano ascended the back staircase and was placed in the playroom by a skilled and patient crew. The period piano that was thoughtfully donated many years ago was removed, making way for the Wright family Steinway. Wright designed the playroom for his children and did not want a baby grand piano to take up floor space within the room. He modified the west wall so the front legs and keyboard of the piano would be within the room and the rest of the piano would extend under the playroom balcony and out over the adjacent staircase, where the piano hangs from a metal strap. We are now pleased to once again have the Wright family piano installed in the playroom and cantilevered over the back stairs.

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