The Overlooked Artisan Who Influenced Frank Lloyd Wright

# Rediscovering Manuel Sandoval: Honoring a Forgotten Master of Modernist Woodwork

## Introduction

Manuel Sandoval’s contributions to architecture and design remain hidden in the shadows of history. An expert carpenter of Nicaraguan descent, Sandoval played a critical role in shaping mid-century Modernist woodwork. His craftsmanship graced the works of renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolph Schindler, yet his name has largely faded from public memory. A recent exhibition, *So Near, So Far: Ryan Preciado – Manuel Sandoval*, currently on display at the Palm Springs Art Museum, seeks to change that narrative. Through meticulous research and artistic reinterpretation, contemporary artist Ryan Preciado sheds light on Sandoval’s lost legacy.

## Early Life and Apprenticeship Under Frank Lloyd Wright

Born in Nicaragua in 1898, Manuel Sandoval immigrated to the United States around 1917. He had learned the art of woodworking from his father, developing a mastery of intricate craftsmanship. He first encountered renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright during a lecture in Chicago and was inspired to write a telegram to Wright stating, “EAGER TO JOIN COLONY AM EXPERT CARPENTER … HAVE STUDIED ARCHITECTURE AT HOME.” Wright, appreciating a skilled artisan when he saw one, invited Sandoval to the prestigious Taliesin Fellowship in Wisconsin.

Though Sandoval had aspirations to study architecture, Wright assigned him to work in the woodshop, where he constructed benches and chairs for the Taliesin playhouse. Over the years, Sandoval became instrumental in realizing Wright’s ambitious designs, crafting intricate wood-paneled interiors for clients such as Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. One of his most significant contributions was the furniture and fixtures for San Francisco’s *V.C. Morris Gift Shop*, one of Wright’s most celebrated commercial projects. Despite his contributions, his work often went undercredited.

## Transition to Los Angeles and Work with Schindler

In the late 1930s, Sandoval relocated to Los Angeles and continued working with notable designers, including Modernist master Rudolph Schindler. One of Sandoval’s most enigmatic projects was a unique dining set for Schindler’s Walker House, distinguished by its floating aesthetic and fine craftsmanship. Unlike Schindler’s typical plywood furniture, this set was crafted from Russian Ash, a fine-grained hardwood.

It was this particular set that caught the attention of Ryan Preciado after journalist Andrew Romano, the current owner of the Walker House, commissioned him to reconstruct the dining table and chairs. Upon deeper investigation into the original craftsmanship, Preciado encountered Sandoval’s name and became obsessed with uncovering his lost story.

## The Exhibition: *So Near, So Far*

Preciado’s fascination culminated in his first solo museum exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum, where he blends historical artifacts with his own artistic interpretations to celebrate Sandoval’s life and work. The exhibition includes rare original pieces by Sandoval, such as a 1938 drop-front desk adorned with elaborate Mayan Revival-style carvings and a dining chair from a Schindler project.

In addition to showcasing Sandoval’s woodwork, the show presents archival documents that reveal a tumultuous relationship between Sandoval and Wright. One particularly striking letter from 1937 shows Wright attempting to underpay Sandoval, writing, “Maybe that isn’t the way things work in Latin America.” Such correspondence highlights the systemic erasure and exploitation of skilled artisans from marginalized backgrounds.

## Artistic Reinterpretation: Honoring Sandoval’s Legacy

Perhaps the most moving aspect of the exhibition is Preciado’s original artworks inspired by Sandoval. He has created a series of stools that reinterpret the design elements of the *V.C. Morris Gift Shop*, featuring cutout geometric forms reminiscent of Sandoval’s woodworking style. One of the most emotive pieces is a small wooden box titled *Atentamente* (2024). Inspired by a story that Sandoval once handcrafted a velvet-lined box to preserve a pencil gifted to him by Frank Lloyd Wright, Preciado recreates the lost artifact to memorialize the devotion Sandoval had to his craft.

At the exhibition’s opening, Preciado reflected on the impact of simply hearing visitors say Sandoval’s name out loud, acknowledging how history had nearly erased the talented artisan.

## A Legacy Restored

The resurgence of interest in Manuel Sandoval makes it evident that artists and scholars are reexamining the invisible labor behind Modernist architecture. Through archeological research and artistic reinterpretation, Preciado has reintroduced Sandoval’s name into design history, ensuring he receives the recognition he deserves.

With the exhibition, newly published books, and renewed public interest, it is clear that Manuel Sandoval will not be forgotten again.