newsletter fall 2014 Volume 22, Number 2 Decorative Arts Society DAS Newsletter Volume 22 Editor Gerald W.R. Ward Number 2 Senior Consulting Curator & Fall 2014 Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator of American Decorative Arts and The DAS Sculpture Emeritus The DAS Newsletter is a publication Museum of Fine Arts, Boston of the Decorative Arts Society, Inc. The Boston, MA purpose of the DAS Newsletter is to serve as The Decorative Arts Society, Inc., is a a forum for communication about research, exhibitions, publications, conferences and Coordinator founded in 1990 for the encouragement other activities pertinent to the serious Ruth E. Thaler-Carter ofnot-for-profit interest in, theNew appreciation York corporation of, and the study of international and American deco- Freelance Writer/Editor exchange of information about the rative arts. Listings are selected from press Rochester, NY decorative arts. To pursue its purposes, releases and notices posted or received the Society sponsors meetings, programs, from institutions, and from notices submit- Advisory Board seminars, tours and a newsletter on the ted by individuals. We reserve the right Michael Conforti decorative arts. Its supporters include to reject material and to edit material for Director museum curators, academics, collectors length or clarity. Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute and dealers. We do not cover commercial galleries. Williamstown, MA The DAS Newsletter welcomes submis- Officers sions, preferably in digital format, by e-mail Wendy Kaplan President in Plain Text or as Word attachments, or Department Head and Curator, David L. Barquist on a CD and accompanied by a paper copy. Decorative Arts and Design H. Richard Dietrich, Jr., Curator Images should be provided at high quality Los Angeles County Museum of Art of American Decorative Arts (400 dpi), preferably as TIFFs or JPEGs, ei- Los Angeles, CA ther color or black-and-white, with detailed Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, PA captions. Charles Venable The newsletter of the DAS is published Director & CEO two times a year. Submission deadlines Indianapolis Museum of Art Vice President for 2015: March 31 for the spring issue; Indianapolis, IN Nicholas Vincent September 30 for the fall Research Associate, American issue. Please send material to Ruth E. Thal- Gillian Wilson Decorative Arts er-Carter, DAS Newsletter Coordinator, at: Curator emeritus, Department of Metropolitan Museum of Art 2500 East Avenue, #7K Decorative Arts and Sculpture New York, NY Rochester, NY 14610 J. Paul Getty Museum or: Los Angeles, CA Treasurer [email protected] Stewart G. Rosenblum, Esq. Ghenete Zelleke New York, NY 585-248-8464, phone Samuel and Patricia M. Grober Curator, 585-248-3638, fax European Decorative Arts Secretary Art Institute of Chicago Veronica Conkling To better serve our contributors and Chicago, IL the decorative arts community, the DAS Independent Research Consultant website may provide information about Washington, DC events that fall between issues. Please send change-of-address information by e-mail to Secretary@ DecArtsSociety.org. Newsletter design by Plum Crane. All content ©2013 Decorative Arts Society. Cover image: Water Pitcher (Ewer), mouth-blown colorless glass, black ink feather-pen drawing with gilding. Designed by Karl Massanetz, made in Klostermühle, Bohemia, Austro-Hungarian Empire, for J. & L. Lobmeyr GmbH, Vienna, Austria, 1913–1914. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. See page 2, News and Acquisitions. DAS news DAS to enjoy special tour of new Cooper Hewitt The Decorative Arts Society will hold aprivate tour of the newly reopened Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum led by Sarah D. Coffin, curator and head, Product Design and Decorative Arts Department, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Under renovation since 2008, the museum (in the former 5th Avenue residence of Andrew Carnegie) has dramatically increased gallery space while reimagining the visitor experience through interactive, immersive creative technologies. Ms. Coffin will lead us through the new galleries and exhibition spaces, and share insights about the renovation and reinstallation. Space is limited to 20 people and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests who become contributors to the Decorative Arts Society, Inc. are welcome. Because invitations have been mailed to current contributors, the tour may already be fully subscribed. RSVP by January 9, 2015, by mailing a check for $15 per person made payable to Decorative Arts Society, Inc. to: DAS c/o Stewart G. Rosenblum, 333 East 69th Street, # 8E, New York, NY 10021. (Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum has graciously waived the usual private tour charge. The program fee is to cover our group admission to the museum.) Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Please note that changes may occur in the program beyond the control of the DAS. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Nicholas Vincent at [email protected] or 212-650-2415. President’s letter Wrapping up a lively year in the decorative arts By David L. Barquist, H. Richard Dietrich, Jr., Curator of American Decorative Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art (PA) s 2014 draws to a close, I’m city’s tremendous energy and diver- visiting additional historic Chicago reminded of the wonderful trips What Would Mrs. Aand events that the Decorative Webb Do? (see Exhibitions) offered a Arts Society, Inc. (DAS) has sponsored fascinatingsity. The exhibition counterpoint in chronicling presidentsites and institutions. Nicholas Vincent, secretary over the past year as part of our mis- Aileen Osborn Webb’s role in found- VeronicaThe officers Conkling of the and DAS treasurer — vice Stew - sion to foster knowledge and interest ing the American Craft Council and art Rosenblum American Craft Museum In April, we gathered in Philadel- Looking ahead to 2015, we have always, the newsletter — have is workedin the excellent very phiain the at field the timeof decorative of the Philadelphia arts. arranged a special private .tour on handshard in of planning coordinator all these Ruth programs. Thaler- As Antiques Show to tour the museums January 21 of the newly renovated Carter, with the steady guidance of its and historic houses for which this city Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design longtime editor, Gerry Ward is renowned, as well as exceptional Museum in NYC with curator (and Your participation in these pro- private collections ranging from the longtime DAS supporter) Sarah Coffin . DAS are vital to sustaining the organi- We are also planning a visit to Chi- grams and your contributions to the colonialThe erasame to eVictorianxciting mix flamboyance was seen cago(see abovefrom March and next 20–22 page). for a private to stunning contemporary craft. tour of the Art Institute’s landmark zation and its mission. We look forward Ireland: Crossroads of Art to your involvement in the new year. by contributors who joined our trip to and Design, 1690–1840 (see Exhibi- In this issue toProvidence, have director Rhode Glenn Island, Adamson in July. host tionsexhibit, DAS news 1 us asIn the Sept Museumember, weof Artwere and privileged Design coincide with a day-long symposium ). The trip has been designed to Cooper Hewitt reopening 2 - scheduled in connection with the Events 3 News 4 thein New MAD York. Biennial He offered many fascinat Acquisitions 5 ing insights into how they assembled openedexhibit. DASespecially participants for us and will to be choose able to People 9 , a vibrant exhibition tour several notable private collections Exhibitions 13 of work by contemporary “makers” in New York City that reflected the between attending the symposium or Newsletter of the Decorative Arts Society, Inc. Fall 2014/1 Cooper Hewitt launches new look transformed Cooper Hewitt, Sarah Coffin, - Smithsonian Design Museum curator and head, of the museum’s ties thanks to Bloomberg Connects, A – the only museum in the United Product A special Design tour and led Decorative by Arts Bloombergfull range of Philanthropiesnew interactive capabili’ digital States devoted exclusively to historic Department (see page 1), will give DAS engagement program, including the and contemporary design – has re- opportunity to explore the collection opened in the renovated and restored the new aspects of the museum and its Carnegie Mansion on New York City’s supporters a behind-the-scenes look at digitally on ultra-high-definition touch- The new space has 60 percent opening exhibitions and installations. - Ascreen newly tables, developed draw Pentheir further own designs enhanc - Museum Mile. cated For to theshowcasing first time the in thepermanent museum’s and solve real-world design problems. - history, the entire second floor is dedi- The transformation of the his- tions,more exhibitionmany drawn space from and the its museum’s 10 torices the Carnegie visitor experience. Mansion, the former permanentinaugural exhibitions collection andof more installa than collectionThe museum through also a variety now features of exhibi a residence of Andrew Carnegie, into a tions. - 210,000 objects that span 30 centuries, feature more than 700 objects through out four floors of the mansion. Tall Green Bloom urn, 3-D printed nylon; 41 x 18 cm (16 1/8 Pulpit Model with Staircase, carved, inlaid, marquetried and veneered x 7 1/16 in.), 2012; designed by Michael Eden (English, b. walnut, pear, and oak. France, mid-19th century. Photo: Ali Elai,