Tag Archives: Museum

Duncan Phyfe

November 14, 2012

This small console or pier table, circa 1817-22, was crafted for the Beekman family of New York. It is made of rosewood, pine and ebony with ormolu mounts, string inlay and a marble top. This is an unusual and extremely rare example of Duncan Phyfe's work.Slideshow

Duncan Phyfe (1768 – 1854) was an extraordinary New York City cabinetmaker who holds a prominent place among those who made significant contributions to the design and style of furniture for some of the wealthiest figures of his time in New York and beyond. New York became the capital of the United States in 1785 and that set the city on a path to become a world power during the first half of the 19th century. The city was strategically located as a gateway for European imports and domestic exports. This commercial activity supported a cosmopolitan way of life that emulated the highest society abroad.

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Museum Exhibit: Crafting Modernism

November 11, 2012

A Noguchi sculpture in iron, wood and rope. I was thinking about propellers when I looked at this. The texture of the iron work is great against the rope.Slideshow

Several weeks ago I took the time while in New York to go to the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) to see the CRAFTING MODERNISM exhibit. The museum, formerly the Museum of Contemporary Crafts (MCC) and later the American Craft Museum (ACM) still retains its original vision by creating exhibits to examine and celebrate American craft in the 20th century. It charts the bold new direction in craft media from the postwar period through the mid 60′s, showing a range of works from the strictly functional but studio made, to beautiful objects integrated into the factory with the designer-craftsman serving as the bridge between hand and machine.

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Mosaic Inspiration: Metropolitan Museum of Art

November 8, 2012

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Several weeks ago we were on our way to see the new installation of Islamic art at MMA when we lost our way, if only temporarily. This detour turned out to be a bonus because I stumbled upon the beautiful black and white mosaics in the great hall of the Greek and Roman Department that I had forgotten about. Not only are the rugs elegant and graceful, but rendering them in black and white, set in a nearly solid black field, makes them feel both modern and traditional and classically timeless. We discovered they were installed in the 1920’s.

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Inspiration: Mosaics in Berlin Museums

November 28, 2011

Neues Museum. A complicated organic border in bright greens.Slideshow

Neues Museum.

Last spring Robert and I went to Berlin on our way to Copenhagen. It was a convenient stop over and a wonderful place to explore museums. Several museums are conveniently located together on an island in the Spree River, within walking distance of other architecturally interesting buildings and our hotel in West Berlin. I had forgotten to write about my experience until I read Thomas Jayne’s blog Ancient and Modern Decoration where he wrote about his recent trip to the Neues Museum and his infatuation with Nefertiti.

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