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George Mann Niedecken (August 16, 1878 – November 3, 1945) was an American prairie style furniture designer and interior architect from
Niedecken started an interior-architecture firm in 1907, called Niedecken-Waldbridge, with his brother-in-law in Milwaukee. He became known for his work in Prairie style buildings. He worked closely with the architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1902 and 1918). Niedecken worked on eleven Wright commissions providing interior design with textiles, lighting, furniture and arts. The relationship began in 1902 when he was commissioned by Wright to make a mural for the Dana–Thomas House. He worked on the design for several Chicago area Wright commissions, including the Avery Coonley House, and the Frederick Robie House. The collaboration ended in 1918 when Wright opened an office in Los Angeles, and Niedecken stayed in Milwaukee. In 1999 Cheryl Robertson wrote a book about Niedecken's work with Wright, ''Frank Lloyd Wright and George Mann Niedecken : Prairie School collaborators''.
He also made interior design for Marion Mahony Griffin's commissions. Mahony was a close associate of Frank Lloyd Wright along with Niedecken. He designed furniture and murals for the Amberg and Irving houses which were Mahony commissions. Mahony was one of the first licensed female architects in the world, and she is considered an original member of the
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
. He is best known for his collaboration with the architect Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright Sr. (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed List of Frank Lloyd Wright works, more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key ...
. He also designed interiors for Marion Mahony Griffin who was one of the first female architects.
Early life
Niedecken was born August 16, 1878, in Milwaukee. At twelve years old he attended the Wisconsin Art Institute, and he studied under artist Richard Lorenz. When he was 19 he moved to Chicago and entered theArt Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. The museum is based in the Art Institute of Chicago Building in Chicago's Grant Park (Chicago), Grant Park. Its collection, stewa ...
. There he was instructed by Louis Millet. From 1899 to 1902 he studied art in Europe. In 1902 he returned to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he took a position teaching decorative arts
]
The decorative arts are arts or crafts whose aim is the design and manufacture of objects that are both beautiful and functional. This includes most of the objects for the interiors of buildings, as well as interior design, but typically excl ...
at the Wisconsin School of Arts. Niedecken married Mary (née) Thayer on October 2, 1905, and their only child died shortly after birth.
Career
Niedecken started an interior-architecture firm in 1907, called Niedecken-Waldbridge, with his brother-in-law in Milwaukee. He became known for his work in Prairie style buildings. He worked closely with the architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1902 and 1918). Niedecken worked on eleven Wright commissions providing interior design with textiles, lighting, furniture and arts. The relationship began in 1902 when he was commissioned by Wright to make a mural for the Dana–Thomas House. He worked on the design for several Chicago area Wright commissions, including the Avery Coonley House, and the Frederick Robie House. The collaboration ended in 1918 when Wright opened an office in Los Angeles, and Niedecken stayed in Milwaukee. In 1999 Cheryl Robertson wrote a book about Niedecken's work with Wright, ''Frank Lloyd Wright and George Mann Niedecken : Prairie School collaborators''.
He also made interior design for Marion Mahony Griffin's commissions. Mahony was a close associate of Frank Lloyd Wright along with Niedecken. He designed furniture and murals for the Amberg and Irving houses which were Mahony commissions. Mahony was one of the first licensed female architects in the world, and she is considered an original member of the Prairie School
Prairie School is a late 19th and early 20th-century architectural style, most common in the Midwestern United States. The style is usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped i ...
.
In 1999 Wendy Moonan of The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
said, "Flea market aficionados take note: pieces by Niedecken are a new collecting category." In 2007 he received a Wisconsin Visual Arts Lifetime Achievement Award.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niedecken, George Mann 1878 births 1945 deaths Architects from Milwaukee Artists from Wisconsin Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School architects School of the Art Institute of Chicago alumni American furniture designers