newsletter/spring 2016 Volume 24, Number 1 Decorative Arts Society The DAS DAS DAS news The Decorative Arts Society, Inc. in 1990 for the encouragement of interest in, the appreciation of, and the exchange of DAS sees changes on board, information about the decorative arts. To, is pursuea not-for-profit its purposes, New theYork DAS corporation sponsors foundedmeetings, Newsletter programs, seminars, tours and a newsletter on the decorative arts. Its supporters include museum curators, academics, collectors and dealers. is at peak of service and vitality Please send change-of-address information by e-mail to [email protected]. or the past 10 years, I have had to the chairs of the Robert C. Smith for the fall Board of Directors Gerald W. R. Ward Editor the honor and pleasure to serve and Charles F. Montgomery Award of 2016: to President Senior Consulting Curator Gerald W. R. Ward as president of the Decorative committees, and to Gerry Ward and New Haven, Senior Consulting Curator & F Susan P. Schoelwer Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator of Arts Society (DAS). Believing strongly Ruth Thaler-Carter for their dedica- CT, to see Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator Robert H. Smith Senior Curator American Decorative Arts and - tion in bringing out each new issue of the exhibi- Sculpture Emeritus of American Decorative Arts and George Washington’s Mount Vernon cial to every organization (not to men- the newsletter. tion Art and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Sculpture Emeritus Mount Vernon, VA that changes in leadership are benefi Boston, MA Museum of Fine Arts, Boston I owe special thanks to Nicholas Industry Boston, MA decided to step down. I am delighted Vincent, who stepped down as vice in Early Treasurer Robert C. Smith Award Committee totion announce any incumbent that Susan of the P. office),Schoelwer I have, president in April, for organizing many America: Stewart G. Rosenblum, Esq. Jeannine Falino, Chair Coordinator the Robert H. Smith Senior Curator at successful trips and events, and to Rhode Is- Independent Curator, Museum Consultant Ruth E. Thaler-Carter George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Stewart Rosenblum, whose tireless land Furni- Secretary Adjunct curator, Museum of Arts and Freelance Writer/Editor has agreed to lead the DAS as our next work on behalf of the DAS extends well ture, 1650–1830, the culmination of Moira Gallagher Design Rochester, NY president. beyond his responsibilities as treasurer. many years of research by former DAS Research Assistant New York, NY I am also pleased to welcome The DAS was founded as a chap- president Patricia E. Kane and her Metropolitan Museum of Art Emily Orr, assistant curator of modern ter of the Society of Architectural colleagues, and to Winterthur (Wilm- New York, NY Suzanne Findlen Hood Associate Curator, Ceramics and Glass and contemporary American design at Historians, and it continues to play ington, DE), to see the exhibition Made Margaret Caldwell Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design in America, in which Museum of Fine Williamsburg, VA The DAS Newsletter is a publication Museum, to our board, who has al- academics, museum professionals, Arts (MFA) Boston curator Dennis Judith Hernstadt of the Decorative Arts Society, Inc. The ready begun working on fall program- collectors,a significant dealers role in and bringing enthusiasts, together all Carr explores the complex inter- Dennis Carr purpose of the DAS Newsletter is to serve as ming. of whom share a passion for decora- changes between Asia and Europe that Emily Orr a forum for communication about research, Carolyn and Peter Lynch Curator of The best part of serving as presi- tive arts. The Smith and Montgomery took place in the Americas. I’m looking Assistant Curator of Modern and exhibitions, publications, conferences and American Decorative Arts and dent has been the opportunity to work publication awards recognize land- forward to participating in these fall contemporary American design Sculpture other activities pertinent to the serious with so many dedicated and talented marks in scholarship. Our events and programs and continuing to see all of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA study of international and American deco- Museum Boston, MA rative arts. Listings are selected from press individuals who generously volunteer trips enable us to see and experience you at these and future events. New York, NY releases and notices posted or received their time to the DAS. I’m particularly important collections, historic sites and Each and every person who is part Karen Zukowski from institutions, and from notices submit- groundbreaking exhibitions. of the DAS contributes to its amazing Committees Art Historian ted by individuals. We reserve the right and members of the board of directors, We have two day-trips scheduled vitality — long may it continue! Charles F. Montgomery Prize and to reject material and to edit material for grateful to present and past officers Emily Orr length or clarity. Award Committee Assistant curator of modern and We do not cover commercial galleries. Wendy Cooper, Chair contemporary American design The DAS Newsletter welcomes submis- Curator Emerita of Furniture Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design sions, preferably in digital format, by e-mail Save the dates! In this issue Winterthur Museum Museum in Plain Text or as Word attachments, or Wilmington, DC New York, NY on a CD. Images should be at high quality lan now to participate in upcoming DAS private tours of these special exhibi- (400 dpi), as TIFFs or JPEGs, either color or Nancy Carlisle tions scheduled for the fall of 2016 in Connecticut and Delaware. DAS con- Jennifer Scanlan black-and-white, with detailed captions. Senior Curator of Collections tributors will receive further information about logistics in late summer. Independent Curator P DAS news 1 The newsletter of the DAS is published Historic New England two times a year. Submission deadlines for New York tour 2 Boston, MA 2016 are: March 31 for the spring issue; Made in the Americas: The New World Discovers Asia Georgia tour 3 September 30 for the fall issue. Send mate- Led by Dennis Carr, Cover image: rial to: Exhibition curator and Carolyn and Peter Lynch Curator of Decorative Arts Book review 5 Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, and Sculpture, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MA) High chest of drawers, mahogany; drawer linings, chestnut, eastern white pine, DAS Newsletter Coordinator Acquisitions 6 cottonwood (upper case: sides and backs, cottonwood; bottoms, chestnut; Saturday, October 8, 2016 2500 East Avenue, #7K Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Wilmington, DE wide drawer in lower case: sides, cottonwood; back and bottom, chestnut; Rochester, NY 14610 Events 9 lower side drawers in lower case: sides and backs, chestnut; bottoms, eastern or: white pine; middle drawer in lower case: sides, cottonwood; back and bottom, [email protected] Rhode Island Furniture and Its Makers, 1650–1830 News 10 eastern white pine); eastern white pine; chestnut; replaced cleats on bot- Led by Patricia E. Kane, The DAS website may provide informa- Friends of the American Arts Curator of American Decorative Arts People 13 tom of upper case, southern yellow pine; 225.7 x 100.1 x 56.2 cm, 1759, John tion about events that fall between issues. Yale University Art Gallery Exhibitions 18 Townsend, American (1732–1809). Photo: Yale University Art Gallery. In Art Saturday, November 12, 2016 and Industry in Early America: Rhode Island Furniture, 1650–1830 (see Exhibi- Newsletter design by Plum Crane. Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT tions, Yale University Art Gallery, Connecticut). All content © Decorative Arts Society. Newsletter of the Decorative Arts Society, Inc. Spring 2016/1 DAS explores “Gilded” exhibition at the Met DAS enjoys visit to Georgia sites On April 9, the By Whitney White, Museum Manager, Pebble Hill Plantation, Thomasville, GA (http://www.pebblehill.com) DAS toured the Artistic Furniture of the Gilded Age exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, Curator Dale Couch leading a NY), led by DAS private tour for DAS partici- pants at the Georgia Museum Moira of Art. Gallagher and Nicholasofficers Vin- Spiral staircase at the High Mu- cent. seum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia. DAS officers Moira Gallagher (above, left) and Nicholas Vincent (above, right) of the Metro- politan Museum of Art lead DAS tour of Artistic Furniture of the Gilded Age exhibition (below). The Henry D. Green Symposium presentations were made by master’s Photos: Stephanie Tegnazian. to the Henry D. Green Symposium at the University of Georgia (Athens) and doctoral students. It is always nice I(Athens,n reflecting GA), on High the recentMuseum DAS of visits Art opened with a keynote lecture by to see the next generation of scholars in- (Atlanta, GA) and two private homes Robert M. Hicklin Jr., proprietor of terested in the decorative arts and learn (Newnan, GA), it is hard to believe we the Charleston Renaissance Gallery, what research projects have drawn did everything in just four days. The entitled “The Story of Southern in Pic- experience was packed with educational tures.” Over his career, he has traveled In her presentation on “Women information and provided networking in search of particular works of interest inthem a Man’s to the World: field. Louise Dubose and opportunities with others interested in and shared personal stories about how the Battleship Georgia Silver,” Debo- all things decorative arts. he came to acquire many of his pieces. rah Prosser, PhD, dean of Libraries, The trip started with a wonder- During the opening reception at the University of North Georgia, reviewed ful guided tour of the High Museum of Georgia Museum of Art, Dale Couch, President Theodore Roosevelt’s efforts Art with Sarah Schleuning, curator of curator of Decorative Arts at the Henry to improve relations between the North Decorative Arts and Design.