Fallingwater sculpture knocked into stream during heavy rains
A sculpture at Fallingwater was knocked into a stream that overflowed during heavy rains Saturday, but officials reported no damage was caused to the famous house in Mill Run.
Officials hoped to retrieve the sculpture late Saturday afternoon and would assess its condition.
“Mother and Child” by sculptor Jacques Lipchitz was positioned at Fallingwater on the corner of the stone wall at the plunge pool, just to the right of the stairs that go down to the stream called Bear Run, explained Lynda Waggoner, director of Fallingwater and vice president of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
“It’s one of our most significant works here at Fallingwater,” said Waggoner. “It’s one that the house has come to be identified with. The first view, when you’re on the bridge, looking at the house — it’s right there.”
A National Historic Landmark, Fallingwater was designed by acclaimed architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930s and considered one of his most famous works and one of the most important buildings of the 20th century.
Wright designed this house built over a waterfall for the Kaufmann family, who owned a Pittsburgh department store and used the home as a summer retreat. The house is now operated as a museum by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
Lipchitz, a Lithuanian-born American sculptor, cast “Mother and Child” circa 1941-42. This sculpture is the only known example from original mold, which was destroyed by a fire in 1952.
The palatinated bronze sculpture is of a mother with her arms raised to the sky and a child hugging the mother’s neck.
Waggoner explained a log hit the wall between 5 and 6 a.m. Saturday and dislodged the sculpture into the stream. One-third of the sculpture was underwater.
The sculpture was attached to the stone wall by a chain at its base. Waggoner said the Kaufmanns put a chain on the sculpture in 1956, following flooding that damaged the stairs leading to the stream. The original iron chain on the sculpture was replaced with a stainless steel chain a few years back.
“The sculpture’s in the stream and stable, and we’re figuring how to lift it out,” Waggoner said Saturday afternoon, expecting the statue to be removed later in the day.
The rain also damaged trees by the guest house.
“A major tree located probably 100 feet behind the guest house was uprooted and it hit other trees. It was a domino effect,” said Waggoner, who believed there was no damage to the guest house except for a small, outside table.
There was also no damage to the interior of Fallingwater, the visitors’ center or The Barn at Fallingwater.
Fallingwater was open Saturday and public tours proceeded but under a 30-45 minute delay as officials assessed the property. A press release noted officials will post updates on Facebook, Twitter and its website www.fallingwater.org.