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| Japanese-inspired 19th-century Worcester ceramics. |
New York City is re-opening and so are the museums. A week-end in May found me at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, viewing, among other exhibits, the newly-reinstalled British Galleries. These galleries were opened on the eve of the pandemic and are still not fully accessible; whether due to a staff shortage or other issues is a mystery.
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| Sadly, not able to see the embroidery. |
The wall texts give a much more inclusive and honest narrative of these objects, especially with regard to that quintessentially British beverage: tea.
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| The Tea Gallery. |
There is one entire room devoted to the storing and serving of tea and the display is as exciting as the objects. One can now see the teapots from every angle, in all their shapely glory. Ever since the King Tut exhibit, designed by the late Stuart Silver, the Met has presented its objects and artifacts in some very imaginative formats. The design of the British Galleries hits it out of the park.
In a gravity-defying display, ceramics and small metal objects are "floated" using all-but-invisible supports affixed to transparent paneled display cases.
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| Display of ceramics and small metal objects. |
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| Finally - we're able to see all sides of these beautiful creations. |
Another aspect of these galleries is that there is no distinction between "fine art" and craft but includes paintings, sculpture, furniture and even entire rooms from stately homes. The anonymous artisan's work is celebrated as much as the work of Sir Joshua Reynolds or Christopher Dresser.
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| Iron balusters, ca. 1730-80. |
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| Chair, ca. 1755, mahogany and needlework. |
The chair above is from a design by Thomas Chippendale; the needlework design in the chair back depicts the Annunication, or "Lady Day,"which falls on March 25. England had adopted the Gregorian calendar on March 25, 1752, only a few years before this chair was made. On this feast day contracts for tenant farmers and landowners were renegotiated.
I look forward to returning to the galleries when they are fully open.
