The Decorative Arts Trust - Fostering appreciation for the decorative arts

Virtual Dialogue with Alec Cobbe and Leslie Fitzpatrick

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Primitive Hall Virtual Tour with Wendy Cooper

Mark your calendar for this May 19 virtual program

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Prize For Excellence and Innovation

Nominations for the $100,000 Prize are due by June 30

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Critical Operations Support Fund

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LATEST NEWS

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May 6

Open

Join The Preservation Society of Newport County virtually on Thursday, May 13, at 12:30 pm ET for the Emerging Scholars Colloquium, presented free via Zoom Webinar in conjunction with the Decorative Arts Trust. New research into 270-year-old Hunter House, the 18th-century maritime trade in Newport crafts, and Ogden Codman’s designs for the third floor of The Breakers will be discussed in sessions lasting roughly 30 minutes each. Preservation Society Research Fellows MaryKate Smolenski, Catherine Doucette, and Sébastien Dutton will present their work, joined by professionals in the fields of history, museums and decorative arts serving as moderators.

See the link in our bio to learn more and register!

@newport_mansions
@historicnewengland
@brooklynmuseum
@catherineedoucette
@museummarykate
@lizbethofgeorge
@_cmsmc_
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#History
#Learning
#Newport
#RI
#HunterHouse
#TheBreakers

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May 4

Open

Join us at 1:00 pm ET on May 10 as we learn about some incredible ceramics from Ireland with artist, designer, and collector Alec Cobbe. Alec will share an illustrated talk about the creation, dispersal, and recovery of the ‘Peacock’ Worcester service of 1763, the largest mid-18th-century service recorded from any British porcelain manufacturer. Thomas and Lady Betty Cobbe of Newbridge House, County Dublin, acquired the service after becoming acquainted with Dr. Wall’s porcelain factory in Worcester as they traveled from Dublin to Bath.

After his presentation, Alec will be joined in conversation with Leslie Fitzpatrick, who previously served as the Samuel and M. Patricia Grober Associate Curator of European Decorative Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The hour-long virtual dialogue will end with an audience Q&A.

Register via the link in our bio: https://decorativeartstrust.org/cobbe-dialogue/.

This program is dedicated in memory of Christopher Monkhouse, a recipient of the Trust’s Award of Merit, whose extraordinary exhibition and publication ‘Ireland: Crossroads of Art and Design, 1690–1840’ continue to serve as a testament to the incredible material culture of Ireland.

Pictured: An exotic bird on the inside of a large pierced dessert basket, decorated in the Lady Betty Cobbe pattern, soft-paste Worcester porcelain, Cobbe Collection.

@aleccobbe
@cobbe_collection
@artinstitutechi
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Design
#Research
#Ceramics
#Porcelain
#Ireland

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Apr 29

Open

Calling all brick nerds and lovers of 18th-century Virginia houses! Ralph Harvard, the great antiquarian and designer, is back with a fascinating virtual tour. This time we visited Brooke’s Bank on the Rappahannock River, where Ralph shared some of the architectural features that make this house so special. Read about the tour and watch the recording via the link in our bio.

@theralphharvard
#BrookesBank
#TrustVirtual
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#History
#Architecture
#HistoricHome
#Brickwork
#InteriorDesign
#VirtualTour
#Virginia
#EssexCounty
#Rappahannock

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Apr 28

Open

“Objects become iconic by their dramatic impact on our culture...When a tool is imbued with the life of the artisan who crafted it, or the longhunter who carried it, only then can that tool transcend itself and become iconic, and therein provide the weave and color that gives our culture its texture.”
- Mel Hankla, author of ‘Into the Bluegrass: Art and Artistry of Kentucky’s Historic Icons’

Read more about Mel and this new book in ‘The Bulletin’: https://decorativeartstrust.org/mel-hankla-bluegrass-post/. (Link in bio.)

Pictured: The Frankfort sideboard dates to 1790. Primary wood is figured cherry with inlaid decoration with bell flower drops. Left to right: miniature sugar chest, flintlock pistol c. 1780, belonging to Colonel William Crabtree, stoneware by Isaac Thomas, coin silver pitcher by Asa Blanchard, coin silver beakers by Thomas Marsh and George McDannold, miniature on ivory by Matthew Harris Jouett, child’s Windsor chair from the estate of noted Kentucky Collector, Mrs. Eleanor Offutt, Kentucky powderhorn with applied antler tip from Robertson family. On the wall, “Nannie” by her uncle, Joseph Henry Bush.

@kyhistorian
#MelHankla
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Research
#Antiques
#Furniture
#Longrifle
#Kentucky
#Book

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Apr 23

Open

Thanks to @ThePhiladelphiaShow for including an article from Decorative Arts Trust Executive Director Matthew Thurlow and Curator of Educational Programs Carrie Greif in their “tastemakers” section! Matt and Carrie tackled the daunting task of selecting a few choice objects from the thousands feature in the virtual Show, opting to focus on the international exchange of design, form, and craft. They included this c. 1882 Tiffany & Co. Coffee Pot from @SJShrubsole.

Tiffany & Co.’s rise to international fame in the late 19th century was largely fueled by the talented head of the silver department, Edward C. Moore, who is the subject of an upcoming publication and exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The @MetMuseum houses much of Moore’s collection of decorative arts from the Near and Far East, which he judiciously acquired for technical and aesthetic inspiration. Moore referred to the design of this coffee pot as “Saracenic” in reference to the style of architecture used by British architects in colonial India. Learn more about The Met's publication in this review and recording of our recent virtual program: https://decorativeartstrust.org/edward-c-moore-post/.

Enjoy the article on the Show’s website: https://thephiladelphiashow.viewingrooms.com/tastemakers/the-decorative-arts-trust/. (Link in bio!)

#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#Antiques
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Research
#Collecting
#Philadelphia
#TiffanyandCo
#Silver
#CoffeePot

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Apr 22

Open

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Apr 16

Open

Springtime in Virginia at one particular site has been so prodigious that we decided we had to take advantage of it. On April 22 at 1:00 pm ET, join the Trust and Ralph Harvard for a special April tour of an important private Cavalier-Georgian mansion on the banks of the Rappahannock River. Drifts of daffodils blanket the terraces down to the river, and the local flora will be on full display. Dating from the mid-18th century, the brickwork on this bantam landmark is superb, with beefy cast details and vitrified-header panels, and Ralph will, of course, wallow in the masonry minutiae. Inside, the woodwork is practically untouched and features Virginia’s earliest curved stair and several Scottish inspired elements. The house and grounds have been meticulously restored, and hospitality reigns here, so we welcome you to join us for rousting fun as we explore this spectacular property.

See the link in our bio to register!
https://decorativeartstrust.org/april-2021-tour/

@theralphharvard
#TrustVirtual
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Research

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Apr 9

Open

Reminder: April 30 is our annual research grant application deadline! 📆

Each year the Trust awards research grants to graduate students working on a Master’s thesis or PhD dissertation in a field related to the decorative arts. The Trust encourages projects that advance diversity in the study of American decorative arts. Although these grants are typically tied to summer research travel, we recognize that the pandemic may continue to delay these efforts and have removed the deadline by which the work must be completed.

Learn more via the link in our bio: https://decorativeartstrust.org/grants-and-scholarships/research-grants/.

Please share!

Pictured: Christine Garnier examining a soup tureen and candelabra from John Mackay’s Tiffany & Co. service at the W. M. Keck Museum at the University of Nevada, Reno.

@garnovia07⁠
@unevadareno⁠
#TrustEmergingScholars
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Grants
#Funding
#Research
#Education
#Scholar

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Apr 8

Open

We can’t go to Kentucky this month, but we can bring Kentucky to you! On April 15 at 1:00 pm ET, join a conversation with esteemed collector and historian Mack Cox as he presents “Tracking New England Footprints in Early Kentucky Furniture (1790-1820).” Trust members Mack and Sharon Cox have built an exceptional collection of Southern decorative arts that will be at the heart of this virtual dialogue.

Mack will discuss how early immigrant cabinetmakers crafted furniture in Kentucky in distinct styles that reflect their diverse origins. Focusing on the influence of New England cabinetmakers, Mack will be joined in conversation with Philip Zea, @HistoricDeerfield President and CEO, to expand the conversation on the myriad of influences that make Kentucky furniture so fascinating. Have your questions ready, as there will be a Q&A at the end of the program.

See the link in our bio to register for this Pay What You Can program: https://decorativeartstrust.org/cox-collection-dialogue/.

Pictured: Petite Work Table, Harrison County, KY.

#MackCox
#PhilipZea
#TrustVirtual
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Research
#Furniture
#Antiques
#AntiqueFurniture
#Kentucky
#Inlay

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Apr 7

Open

Did you know that humans have worked with jade for millennia? Cultures in China and Mesoamerica used jade for everything from paint brushes tiaras as a symbol of wealth and status.

See the link in our bio to learn more about Jade’s fascinating history in our exhibit review of Flint Institute of Arts’ ‘The Art of Jade’: https://decorativeartstrust.org/art-of-jade-post/.

Pictured: Bi Disk with Imperial Decoration, Western Han Dynasty, 206 BCE - 12 CE, Chinese. Jade. Gift of Genevieve and Richard Shaw, by exchange, FIA 2010.284.

@flintinstituteofarts
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#AsianArt
#ChineseArt
#Mesoamerica
#Jade
#Exhibition
#Museum
#MuseumFromHome

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Apr 6

Open

The Prize for Excellence and Innovation deadline is June 30! This $100,000 Prize funds outstanding projects that advance the public’s appreciation of decorative art, fine art, architecture, or landscape. The Prize will be awarded to a non-profit organization for a scholarly endeavor, such as museum exhibitions, print and digital publications, and online databases.

Link in bio: https://decorativeartstrust.org/prize

Pictured: 2020 Prize recipient @CraftinAmerica films Linda Sikora, potter and Professor of Ceramic Art/Division Head at Alfred University. Photo by Denise Kang.

#TrustPrize
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#Prize
#Award
#Funding
#Nonprofit
#Museum
#HistoricHome
#HouseMuseum
#Art
#Architecture
#LandscapeDesign
#History

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Apr 2

Open

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Mar 25

Open

“It’s hard to think of a scholar who has not been touched by what happens here at Winterthur.” Click the link in our bio to watch our latest virtual tour featuring decorative arts star @tomsavage1775.

In this photo, Tom shows off his imitation resit-dye face mask that was designed to match the upholstery of a wing-backed chair in Winterthur’s Hampton Room. During his heartfelt tour, Tom shares some of the most iconic rooms at Winterthur as well as the stories behind the incredible scholarship that makes the Winterthur collection so special.

@winterthurmuse
#TrustVirtual
#VirtualTour
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#SouthernFurniture
#Upholstery
#FaceMask
#ResistDye
#Chair
#Upholstery
#Textiles
#HamptonRoom

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Mar 24

Open

In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, the Trust is featuring Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive’s retrospective of Rosie Lee Tompkins, brilliant quilter of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Click the link in our bio to check out our recent 'Bulletin' post for more about BAMPFA’s virtual exhibit and to read about how Tompkins’s works push us to think differently about authorship and material categorizations within the decorative arts: https://decorativeartstrust.org/tompkins-bampfa-post/.

Pictured: Rosie Lee Tompkins, ‘Untitled,’ circa 2004, quilted by Irene Bankhead. Eli Leon Bequest, BAMPFA.

@bampfa
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Artist
#Art
#Quilt
#Quilters
#QuiltLove
#Exhibition
#Museum

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Mar 22

Open

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Mar 19

Open

Our Blog is now the BULLETIN! We changed the name to better reflect depth and breadth of posts. Have you visited lately? Check out The Decorative Arts Trust Bulletin for stories about scholarship and research, exhibitions, books, and our past programs. Enjoy!

Link in bio: https://decorativeartstrust.org/bulletin/

Pictured: Detail of an armoire featured in the ‘A Material Culture Mystery: Cybèle Gontar on ‘“Chasing the Butterfly Man”’ post at https://decorativeartstrust.org/butterfly-man-post/. @cybelegontar

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Mar 18

Open

On March 26, 2021, at 3:00 pm ET the Decorative Arts Trust will host the first panel discussion in a two-part series on the Decorative Arts market. This first installment will focus on auction houses and feature Tim Andreadis, Division Director, Decorative Arts & Design, Freeman’s; Lauren Brunk, Vice President, Brunk Auctions; John Hays, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s; and Annie Wu, Director, Senior Specialist, Asian Art, Hindman, who will participate in an hour-long discussion on the evolving market for the decorative arts. These panelists will be led in conversation by moderator Taryn Clary, Cataloguer, 20th Century Design, Sotheby's.

From encouraging new collectors, to virtual auctions, to value in the marketplace, our colleagues are sure to generate a riveting conversation. We will also have some fun sharing stories from some remarkable professionals in the field. There will be a live Q&A at the end of the program, so come ready with questions!

Register for this pay what you can panel discussion at https://decorativeartstrust.org/march-2021-panel/. Link in bio! All registrants receive a recording of the program.

This event is sponsored by Freeman’s.

Pictured: Thomas Rowlandson, sketch of Christie's auction room for an illustration to Ackerman's "Microcosm of London,” 1757-1827. Pen and grey and brown ink and watercolour. The British Museum, 1899,0420.99.

@freemansauction
@brunkauctions
@christiesinc
@hindmanauctions
@sothebys
@timandreadis
@anniewu001
@tarynupmyheart14
#DecorativeArts
#Auctions
#BuyArt
#AuctionHouses
#PanelDiscussion
#TrustVirtual
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Research

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Mar 17

Open

On March 9, the Trust had the pleasure of hosting a fascinating dialogue on The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s upcoming publication and exhibition, ‘Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co.’

Moira Gallagher, Research Associate for American Decorative Arts in the American Wing presented a wonderful lecture on Edward C. Moore and the impact of his collecting on both the amazing objects created by Tiffany & Co. silver division during the latter half of the 19th century and The Met’s collection. After her presentation, she was joined in conversation with Medill Higgins Harvey, Ruth Bigelow Wriston Associate Curator of American Decorative Arts and Manager of the Henry R. Luce Center, who is editor of ‘Collecting Inspiration.’

Read about this dialogue and watch the video using the link in our bio: https://decorativeartstrust.org/edward-c-moore-post/.

‘Collecting Inspiration Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co.’ will be available for purchase in the coming months. The timing of the exhibition is not yet set.

Pictured: Cover of ‘Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co.,’ a forthcoming publication that will be available for purchase this summer.

@metmuseum
@metamericanwing
#TrustVirtual
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Research
#MuseumFromHome
#Silver
#TiffanyAndCo
#EdwardCMoore

ON THE ROAD AND ONLINE

Exploring the Charles and Ray Eames House

IN THE FIELD

GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS EMERGING SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND PRIZE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS UPCOMING TRIPS, LECTURES, AND PROGRAMS

ONLINE LEARNING RESEARCH FROM THE FIELD, EXHIBITIONS, BOOK REVIEWS, VIDEOS, AND PUZZLES

BULLETIN CURRENT REPORTS AND HAPPENINGS

Virtual Dialogue with Alec Cobbe and Leslie Fitzpatrick

Primitive Hall Virtual Tour with Wendy Cooper

Prize For Excellence and Innovation

Critical Operations Support Fund

Membership with the Decorative Arts Trust

Collaboration, Partnership, and Support

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