Art Deco Frank Lloyd Wright Johnson Wax Research Building Lighter

Iconic Machine Age Design

Ref: O225

1930's Skyscraper Art Deco figural "Johnson's Wax Research Tower" petrol table cigar lighter. The chrome-plated quality lighter is a miniature model of the Racine Wisconsin building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright is considered to be one of America's foremost architects.

Wright designed this streamline skyscraper building in the 1930's, but Johnson Wax did not build it until the 1940's. The lighter was commissioned by H. J. Johnson, the then President of the company and given to a select number of employees/people in 1947 as a memento. This novelty figural cigar lighter is one of the most important Deco figural desk lighters ever manufactured. The building lighter features a great streamlined cubic ribbed design with red lacquer enamel stripes and circular stepped base.

This heavy and well-made lighter is marked "Johnson's Wax Research Tower Racine Wis." on the large fuel screw on the bottom of lighter, which is often missing. The condition is great with only minimal signs of use and chips/wear in the red enamel paint. Most of the time when these lighters are found the bottom red building overhang has been stripped because of paint loss to chrome, this example still retains the original red enamel on this detail.

The lighter measures approximately 5.75" Tall x 2.85" across at the base and is in near mint condition.