The Decorative Arts Trust - Fostering appreciation for the decorative arts

Bavaria: Grandeur in Southern Germany

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A Day at The Huntington Art Museum & Botanical Gardens

Register for our special program at Southern California’s Huntington Art Museum, Library, and Botanical Gardens on December 4

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Emerging Scholars Colloquium in New York

Join us for an uplifting morning of presentations featuring new research on January 23

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New York Antiques Weekend

Register now for a weekend of visits to The Winter Show, special exhibitions, and private collections on January 21 and 22

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Membership with the Decorative Arts Trust

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LATEST NEWS

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Nov 30

Open

This #GivingTuesday, your donation could be doubled! A generous donor is matching gifts to the Decorative Arts Trust’s Emerging Scholars Program up to $2,500, today only!

Will you help us turn $2,500 into $5,000 for our program of scholarships, grants, lectures, and internships? We truly appreciate your help! In 2022, the Trust will award $150,000 in support for academic and professional development through the Emerging Scholars Program, including funding for our IDEAL Internships. Pictured is Christiana Larracuente, the MFA’s Decorative Arts Trust IDEAL intern, working with Nonie Gadsden, Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture, and George W. Russell, Jr., Chair of Harmony and Jazz Ensemble at Berklee College of Music, to review objects for the upcoming Art and Jazz gallery installation. (October 28, 2021, Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.)

Donate: https://decorativeartstrust.org/directed-gifts/.

Learn more about our Emerging Scholars Program: https://decorativeartstrust.org/grants-and-scholarships/.

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Nov 22

Open

Judy and John Herdeg shared stories about their collection and the people behind the art that graced their 18th-century home for a new publication.

Decorative Arts Trust Executive Director Matthew Thurlow shares a story about housesitting for the Herdegs and more in his 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯 post about the Herdegs, their collection, and their book 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘛𝘦𝘭𝘭...𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 from the New England Historic Genealogical Society. NEHGS's magnificent volume is an homage to John, who unfortunately passed away this summer before publication.

Read more in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯: https://decorativeartstrust.org/herdeg-post/.

Pictured: The Herdegs’ Living Room. Photo by Gavin Ashworth.

@american_ancestors
@winterthurmuse
#NEHGS
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#Antiques
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Architecture
#Collecting
#Books

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Nov 19

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Register now for our October 2022 exploration of Munich, Nuremberg, and Augsburg in beautiful Bavaria! An independent nation until 1871, Bavaria contains a wealth of natural beauty and sophisticated historic sites. Munich is renowned for the opulent Baroque and Rococo palaces that suggest the city’s long standing as a cultural powerhouse. From the fairy-tale castles and pilgrimage churches of the German Alps to the great artistic centers of Nuremberg and Augsburg, we explore the impact of international commerce from ancient Rome to the present day. Enjoy more time in the region with an optional extension to Würzburg and Stuttgart. The picturesque scenery of snow-capped mountains, cobblestone streets, and half-timber houses is complemented by excellent fare at every turn.

Register or learn more about the itinerary and registration fees at https://decorativeartstrust.org/bavaria-2022/.

Pictured: Schloss Nymphenburg in Munich.

#TravelsWithTheTrust
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Travel
#ArtTravel
#Bavaria
#Germany

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Nov 18

Open

Join us on November 30 at 1:00 pm as we head to Hampton National Historic Site for a Virtual Tour with curator Gregory Weidman, who is also a long-time Trust member.

Hampton was the largest private home in America when completed in 1790 and is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the country. Located north of Baltimore, MD, the estate was owned by the Ridgely family for seven generations, from 1745 to 1948. The 24,000-square-foot mansion is a unique survival in that very little has changed since the mid-19th century, inside and out, from extant furnishings to the garden parterres to the stone slave quarters.

About 95 percent of the art and artifacts displayed are original to the house, including 750 pieces of American, European, and Chinese furniture. Chairs made by John Shaw for the Maryland State House in 1797 and the largest intact suite of painted furniture made by John Finlay for Hampton’s Drawing Room in 1832 offer plenty to explore. Greg will also share the extensive research conducted on the people who lived at Hampton, free, indentured, and enslaved.

Don’t miss out! Register for this pay-what-you-can virtual program at https://decorativeartstrust.org/hampton-tour/. (Link in bio!)

Pictured: Drawing Room set to period 1840-1860, including the suite of Finlay furniture; 100% of collection objects on exhibit are original to Hampton and the Ridgely family. Photo by National Park Service.

@hamptonnps
#TrustVirtual
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Design
#InteriorDesign
#Architecture
#MuseumFromHome
#VirtualTour
#Maryland

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Nov 12

Open

Join us in New York City for our 6th Annual Emerging Scholars Colloquium!

On January 23, the Decorative Arts Trust presents an uplifting morning of presentations featuring new research by recipients of support through our Emerging Scholars Program. The schedule includes lectures from Elizabeth Fox, Henry Luce Curatorial Assistant, Worcester Art Museum; Jena Gilbert-Merrill, Lois F. McNeil Fellow, Winterthur Program in American Material Culture, University of Delaware; Michael Hartman, Associate Curator of American Art, Hood Museum, Dartmouth College; Margaret Wood, Decorative Arts and Design History, George Washington University; and Xiaoyi Diana Yang, Bard Graduate Center.

The event concludes with closing remarks from Daniel Ackermann, Chief Curator and Director of Collections, Research and Archaeology, Old Salem Museums and Gardens, after which participants can enjoy The Winter Show (ticket included with registration).

This event is sponsored in part by the Wunsch Americana Foundation and Mr. & Mrs. Donald B. Ayres, III. All proceeds benefit the Trust’s Emerging Scholars Program.

Learn more and register at https://decorativeartstrust.org/emerging-scholars-colloquium-ny-2022/. (Link in bio!)

Pictured: Deckel, E. C., Album Quilt, 1848, Baltimore, MD. Cotton. Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Gift of Bridget and Al Ritter, 5840.

#TrustEmergingScholars
#TravelsWithTheTrust
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
@elizafox93
@jenarrr
@curatormichael
@margewood37
@satomi.young

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Nov 11

Open

It's back! Register now for New York Antiques Weekend to be held in person on January 21 and 22, 2022.

Antiques Weekend is our annual foray into the hustle and bustle of New York’s Americana Week. This two-day program combines a tour and lunch at the heralded Winter Show with visits to special exhibitions, galleries, and private collections. This year's program includes curator-led tours at the Brooklyn Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Members also enjoy exclusive tours of The Winter Show and a chance to see an excellent private collection in a Park Avenue apartment.

Space is limited, and this program always sells out quickly! Learn more and register today at https://decorativeartstrust.org/ny-antiques-weekend-2022/. (link in bio)

Pictured: The Winter Show, January 2020. Photo by Matthew Gilbertson.

#TravelsWithTheTrust
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Antiques
#TheWinterShow
@thewintershownyc
@brooklynmuseum
@metmuseum
@metamericanwing
@decartskc
@lizbethofgeorge
@bveith89
@medill_harvey
@elizabeth.cleland
#irismoon
#wolfburchard

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Nov 9

Open

Congratulations to Jena Gilbert-Merrill and Rachael Kane for your insightful presentations at the Delaware Antiques Show! The Decorative Arts Trust is proud to have sponsored the Young Scholars Lectures, and we look forward to learning more about your ongoing research.

Read more about Jena and Rachael in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯: https://decorativeartstrust.org/de-antiques-show-2021-post/. Link in bio!

@jenarrr
@kane.r.t
@winterthurmuse
#TrustEmergingScholars
#DelawareAntiquesShow
#DEAntiquesShow
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory

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Nov 1

Open

Walking into 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢: 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴, 1850-1915 is like falling into the whimsical Victorian universe of Alice in Wonderland. Colorful creatures welcome the visitor to a world of capricious fantasy, indulgence, and decadence, but also profound creativity and imagination.

Read more about the exhibition and the history of majolica in this new 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯 post from Juliana Fagua Arias: https://decorativeartstrust.org/majolica-mania-post/. Link in bio!

Pictured: Griffen, Smith & Co., “Shell” ware, c. 1879–90, Phoenixville, PA. Earthenware with majolica glazes. Private collection, most ex coll. Dr. Howard Silby. Photograph: Bruce White.

@bardgradcenter
#BardGraduateCenter
#BardgraduateCenterGallery
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#Majolica
#Ceramics
#Shellware
#Gallery
#Exhibition

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Oct 29

Open

Congratulations to the @neworleansmuseumofart for being named the Decorative Arts Trust Curatorial Internship Grant partner for 2022-2024!

The Decorative Arts Trust Curatorial Fellow will be integral to developing an exhibition and collection catalog for NOMA’s important glass holdings.

Read more in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯: https://decorativeartstrust.org/noma-post/.

Check NOMA’s website and social for updates about applying for the fellowship.

Pictured: Roman, 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘜𝘳𝘯, 1-99 CE. Glass. New Orleans Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Frederick M. Stafford in honor of the 75th Anniversary, 86.40.
Syrian or Egyptian, 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘱, c. 1250. Non-lead glass, enameled and gilt. New Orleans Museum of Art, Gift of Melvin P. Billups in memory of his wife, Clarice Marston Billups.
New England Glass Company, 𝘝𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘰𝘪𝘯, c. 1840. Glass, free blown, with 1816 English coin. New Orleans Museum of Art, Gift of Melvin P. Billups in memory of his wife, Clarice Marston Billups.
London, England, "𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴" 𝘎𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘵, c. 1759. Clear and opaque lead glass, engraved bowl. New Orleans Museum of Art, Gift of Melvin P. Billups in memory of his wife, Clarice Marston Billups.

#TrustEmergingScholars
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Glass
#Curator
#Internship
#Museum

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Oct 27

Open

Join us on December 4 for a day of exclusive tours at @TheHuntingtonLibrary, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens!

Originally the private estate of railroad magnate Henry Huntington, the museum is one of Southern California's must-see cultural destinations with magnificent collections of American art and famous European works including Gainsborough’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘺. Our day features curator-led tours of the American art and American decorative arts collections, the Chinese Garden and Gallery, the Japanese Heritage House, and the Desert Garden.

Learn more and register today at https://decorativeartstrust.org/huntington-2021/. Link in bio!

Pictured: The Huntington exterior; Japanese House. Photo by Hiroyuki Nakayama; Installation view in the Thornton Portrait Gallery at The Huntington. Left to right: Joshua Reynolds, 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 (𝘚𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦), 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘣𝘪𝘦, 1777; Kehinde Wiley, 𝘈 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯, 2021; Thomas Gainsborough, 𝘌𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘩 (𝘑𝘦𝘯𝘬𝘴) 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘧𝘰𝘺, 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘺𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘵, c. 1780. Photo by Joshua White; Images courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

#TravelsWithTheTrust
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#ArtTravel
#History
#Architecture
#Design
#MuseumFromHome
#Museum

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Oct 25

Open

Under the patronage of the Savoys, Turin attracted talented architects and artists from near and far. A true native talent, Pietro Piffetti served as the royal cabinetmaker to King Carlo Emanuele III, through which he developed an extravagant and unique interpretation of Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical style. We encountered more than two dozen examples of his exuberant designs during our stay in this lovely city on the Po River. Piffetti's furniture incorporates marquetry of ebony, boxwood, walnut, fruitwood, and tortoiseshell that frames incised pictorial panels of ivory and bone and is complemented with ormolu mounts contributed by Turinese sculptor Francesco Ladatte. The exotic materiality of Piffetti's tables, commodes, and desks was enabled by 18th-century colonialist pursuits, rendered into effusive poetry by his impressive creativity.

Learn more about the Trust's Northern Italy tour at https://decorativeartstrust.org/northern-italy/.

#TravelsWithTheTrust
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#ArtTravel
#Furniture
#PietroPiffetti
#Turin
#Italy

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Oct 20

Open

#Genoa might not be on everyone's must-see list, but this remarkable port city should be on your radar. With great wealth gained through mercantile trade and banking in the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, there are splendid sites set within a warren of atmospheric lanes and alleys. In the 16th century, the grand Strada Nuova was developed by the leading Genovese families with a string of palazzi, most of which were updated in the 17th and 18th centuries. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 42 palazzi are featured, some museums, but most privately owned. We visited no less than six, enjoying spectacular frescoes, an exhibition of Genovese embroidery, a rooftop garden with nymphaeum, and an impressive collection of Italian and French decorative arts along the way. The pesto and seafood are otherworldly as well!

Learn more about the Decorative Arts Trust's Northern Italy tour at https://decorativeartstrust.org/northern-italy/.

@genovamorethanthis
#TravelsWithTheTrust
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Architecture
#ArtTravel
#StradaNuova
#Genova
#Italy

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Oct 14

Open

Our travels in Italy continue with a tour extension in the Como region. On our way to Lake Como we enjoyed a private concert at @villa_medici_giulini, which was constructed in 1634. Complementing the beauty of the site was the magical music of the fortepiano made by Anton Walter in 1796 (pictured in the lower left). This unique instrument is an example of a combined single manual harpsichord and piano, meaning that it can play the harpsichord sound as well as the piano sound (i.e. pluck and strike the strings).

Learn more about the Trust's Northern Italy tour at https://decorativeartstrust.org/northern-italy/.

#TravelsWithTheTrust
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#Italy
#Como
#LakeComo
#VillaMediciGiulini
#Piano
#Harpsicord
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Architecture

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Oct 13

Open

Bella Milano! Decorative Arts Trust members are enjoying Tour 1 of our Study Trip Abroad to Northern Italy, including the stunning Castello Sforzesco. "Sforza's Castle" was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remnants of a 14th-century fortification. Extensively rebuilt by Luca Beltrami in 1891–1905, the impressive structure now houses several of the city's museums and art collections. Swipe through to see the group enjoying a private viewing of Michelangelo’s unfinished masterpiece, the Rondanini Pietà. Ciliegina sulla torta!

Learn more about the Trust's trip to Genoa, Turin & Milan at https://decorativeartstrust.org/northern-italy/.

#TravelsWithTheTrust
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#Italy
#Milan
#CastelloSforzesco
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Architecture

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Oct 8

Open

November 30, 2021, is the deadline to apply for IDEAL Internship Grants from the Decorative Arts Trust.

Click on the link in our bio for information: https://decorativeartstrust.org/grants-and-scholarships/ideal-internship-grants/.

The IDEAL Internship Initiative is part of the Trust’s growing Emerging Scholars Program. Non-profit institutions are eligible for IDEAL Internship Grants of up to $5,000.

IDEAL Internships focus on inclusivity, diversity, equity, access, and leadership. The Trust recognizes the homogeneity of the museum field and will strive to improve access to curatorial careers for students of color as a path toward achieving systemic change.

Please share with colleagues in the cultural sector, and we look forward to reading another group of compelling proposals!

Pictured: Cianni Williams (center), IDEAL intern at the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University, helps catalog a c. 1911 banner used in historical pageants created by and staged at the former John Wanamaker Department Store.

#TrustEmergingScholars
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#Art
#History
#Museums
#Nonprofits
#Internships
#Mentorship
#Grants

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Oct 7

Open

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Oct 2

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Oct 1

Open

Reminder: October 31 is the application deadline for Dean F. Failey Grants for noteworthy research, exhibition, publication, and conservation projects! Grants for up to $15,000 are awarded on an annual basis. Preference will be given to projects that employ or are led by young professionals in the museum field.

The Decorative Arts Trust awarded the American Swedish Historical Museum (ASHM) with a 2020 Failey Grant for their 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘭𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 exhibition, which opened this summer. Project Lead Trevor Brandt, pictured here, also wrote an article about the exhibition for the summer 2021 issue of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵.

Learn more via the link in our bio: https://decorativeartstrust.org/failey-grant/.

@AmericanSwedish
@brandttrevor
#TrustEmergingScholars
#DecorativeArts
#MaterialCulture
#ArtHistory
#History
#Antiques
#Exhibition
#Museum
#Curator
#Research
#Grants
#Funding

IN THE FIELD

Exploring the Charles and Ray Eames House

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

Bavaria: Grandeur in Southern Germany

A Day at The Huntington Art Museum & Botanical Gardens

Emerging Scholars Colloquium in New York

New York Antiques Weekend

Membership with the Decorative Arts Trust

Collaboration, Partnership, and Support

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