While Frank Lloyd Wright is most famous for his buildings, his work with the
The Torch Pattern (as seen here) was designed to be both beautiful and highly functional. These tiles were installed in the "transom" (upper) windows of storefronts and offices. The vertical ribs on the back are precisely engineered prisms that caught daylight and redirected it deep into the dark interiors of buildings before electric lighting was common.
Why is it purple? The amethyst hue is a "gift from time." Early glass manufacturers used manganese as a clearing agent to make glass look crystal clear. When exposed to decades of sunlight (UV rays), a chemical reaction occurs, slowly turning the glass this sought-after shade of violet.
All photographs of the item were taken by me. Non smoke home.