Author: Jenny Shin

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Image features table clock in curving glazed earthenware case with polychrome linear decoration of stylized plant forms on a cream-colored ground. Please scroll down to read the blog post about this object.
Nieuwe Kunst, Nieuwe Clock
This Dutch glazed earthenware clock, manufactured in 1910 by the Arnhem Faience Factory exemplifies the Art Nouveau style, or Nieuwe Kunst as it was called in the Netherlands, prevalent in that country from about 1892 to 1910. Art Nouveau had origins in England and quickly gained popularity in France and the rest of Europe as...
Image features fruit knife with shaped silver and silver-gilt blade decorated with image of a Japanese woman in a kimono flanked by foliage designs; white, ridged mother-of-pearl handle. Please scroll down to read the blog post about this object.
The Exoticism of a Fruit Knife; Merging Japanese Aesthetic and French Craft
To celebrate the opening of Iridescence, on view through March 24, 2019, Object of the Day this week will feature iridescent objects in the collection. This stunningly crafted fruit knife combines exquisite artistry and strong Japanese influence to elevate the everyday dining experience into an art form. As part of a substantial dessert service of...
Image features brooch of long organic shape, the irregular edges bordered in gold, surrounding abstract decoration of gold strips enclosing cloisonné enamel in tones of white, yellow-green, gold and black; baroque pearl and faceted square citrine at bottom. Please scroll down to read the blog post about this object.
A Jeweler’s Magic; The Sorcerer’s Stone
To celebrate the opening of Iridescence, on view through March 24, 2019, Object of the Day this week will feature iridescent objects in the collection. William Harper’s hand-crafted jewelry includes brooches, pendants, and necklaces, each telling a story of their own. Harper specializes in cloisonné enameling, an ancient decorative technique that has remained virtually unchanged...
Image features Inrō (container) in form of a turtle, with tail and feet drawn in and head partially extended. Divided into four horizontal compartments fitted into each other and lacquered black on inside. Strung on brown silk cord with turtle-shaped Ojime 1952-164-24 and Netsuke 1952-164-25. Please scroll down to read the blog post about this object.
Turtles All the Way Down
Turtle-shaped and strung with carved toggles and cord, this object instantly piques the curiosity of the viewer. The diminutive lacquered wood sculpture is, in fact, a Japanese container, referred to as an inrō, which is composed of separate compartments and held together with a cord. These small containers were often used as medicine boxes, containing...
Image features a rectangular snuffbox with hinged lid decorated with inlaid mother-of-pearl fragments arranged to depict Cupid with small wings and holding a golden arrow, amid chased and inlaid gold scrollwork and grapevines. Please scroll down to read the blog post about this object.
The Subtle and Stylish Sophistication of the Snuffbox
Small enough to hold in one’s palm and ornate enough to catch the eye of a passerby, this snuffbox is a combination of exquisite craftsmanship and subtle status symbol, as such containers often were in 18th-century Europe. The box is attributed to Johann Martin Heinrici, a Swiss artisan who worked at the famed Meissen porcelain...