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October, 2019 The Antique Shoppe Page 9
But open shelving below an enclosed cabinet was tacky, so the bottom was Opening October 15 at the Morse: Two New Exhibitions
enclosed and the cabinet height increased.
This fully enclosed cabinet, no longer a “court” cupboard, was now called a Rare Tiffany Pottery and Archival Treasures
“press” cupboard. It was now essentially two cabinets, one above and one below WINTER PARK, FL—On October 15, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American
what amounted to a table surface. Traditionally the upper cabinet was slightly Art will open two new exhibitions focusing on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s art pottery and
recessed from the front edge and the upper top section appeared to be supported the Museum’s extensive collection of archival materials related to Tiffany and his
by columns carved in the style of the period, Elizabethan or Jacobean. The upper various companies.
cabinet could be a square or rectangular cabinet with a flat front door or it could Rare and Remarkable—Art Pottery of Louis Comfort Tiffany looks at Tiffany’s
have sides canted to the rear at about a 45 degree angle. While most frontier ceramics at a time when American art pottery enjoyed international acclaim. The Morse
homes in the American colonies of the mid to late 17th century had resorted to holds the world’s largest public collection of Tiffany pottery. The pottery Tiffany made,
the original idea of a simple board on the wall, impressive press cupboards were primarily between 1900 and 1915, was inspired by Asian and French ceramics and
being built in the heavily populated regions of Massachusetts. by nature. It is distinguished by its complex glazing and its compelling forms—some
abstract, some astonishingly realistic representations of the natural world.
As the colonies became more urban the cupboard assumed the form either of Two recently acquired crocus vases, from part of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s personal
a wedge shaped corner cabinet or a flat back cabinet to stand along a wall. Most collection, are being exhibited for the first time. Cast from the same mold and differing
cabinets were made in two sections, a top display area and a bottom storage only in glazing, they will be displayed with a third crocus vase long held in the Museum’s
compartment. The top could be open shelving, called a hutch, or it could be collection.
enclosed with blind (solid wooden) doors or glass panel doors. The glass was Tiffany’s art pottery is a testament to his extraordinary versatility and unique place in
installed in individual small pieces because glassmaking technology was still America’s art pottery achievement.
primitive. While the open shelf hutch has remained more or less unchanged the Stories from the Archives—Louis Comfort Tiffany and his Studios presents selected
enclosed cabinet had a long way to go. materials from the Morse Museum’s invaluable archival collection. The Museum’s
The most popular cupboard in the Federal period of the early 1800s was first director, Hugh F. McKean (1908–1995), understood the vital role that preliminary
the built in corner cupboard with glass panel doors but free standing corner sketches, plans, and models play in creating a finished work of art. Along with collecting
cupboards were more popular in the southern regions along the Atlantic glass, ceramics, paintings, and other mediums explored by Tiffany and other American
seaboard. artists, Mr. McKean set out to gather archival resources too. Whether a pattern for a
The form remained more OR less unchanged until the late Victorian period. lampshade, a sample panel for a mosaic, or documents, these materials helped establish
Victorians were very impressed with large, glass panel enclosed display cases the final products and therefore contribute immensely to understanding Tiffany’s work.
The Morse Museum located at 445 N. Park Avenue, Winter Park is open Tuesday
but the real breakthrough came in the 1880s. The technology of glassmaking through Sunday. After 4 p.m. on Fridays from November through April, admission is free
using the cylinder method had progressed to the point of producing large for all visitors and the galleries’ hours are extended until 8 p.m.
uninterrupted sheets of glass that could be made into large pier mirrors, For more information about the Morse, visit morsemuseum.org.
impressive cheval mirrors, huge picture windows or they could be bent to
produce a curved front, single pane glass
door for a display cabinet.
This new technology was of course Manatee Co. Antiques Dealers
used in all forms of Victorian display
cabinets from bookcases to parlor
cabinets to etageres but the final and best Ellenton, Palmetto & Terra Ceia
use was for the ubiquitous oak china
cabinet of the late 19th century. COME SEE OUR NEW LOCATION
Since the 1880s the basic form of the
china cabinet has been made in every Emiline’s FEED STORE
style of every period including Mission,
Empire Revival, Art Nouveau, Colonial Antique Mall ANTIQUE MALL
Revival, Art Deco and anything else you
can think of. The only deviation was antiques & collectibles
during the Depression era of the 1930s 4407 Hwy 301
in one branch of the oft-misdirected Ellenton, FL 34222
Colonial Revival style. A number of Antiques & Collectibles Exit 224, 1 Mile W of I-75
companies produced complete dining Tea Room & Gifts 35 Quality Dealers
sets based on elements of the Jacobean 941.417.2150 1415 10 St. W., Palmetto, FL (941) 729-1379
th
period and style. Among these sets www.charmsofleffingwell.com (Hwy. 301 - I-75, Exit 224) Mon. thru Sat. 10 - 5
which often included an Elizabethan Open Sat. & Sun. 10am-3pm OPEN 7 DAYS: M-S 10-5, Sun 12-5 Sun. 12 - 5
style draw leaf table and wainscot or by appointment 941-729-5282 50 Quality Dealers
looking chairs, was a variation of our old 905 Leffingwell Avenue 2 www.EmilinesAntiqueMall.com 3 4
Ellenton, FL 34222
friend the court cupboard, grown taller
but still with carved or turned columns
and sometimes even canted sides of
the enclosed upper section. What goes
around comes around. 5
Thanks to John Fiske and Lisa Freeman.
Send your comments, questions and pictures to me
at PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423 or email them to
me at info@furnituredetective.com 941-729-9500
Visit Fred’s website www.furnituredetective.com and Just south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
check out the downloadable “Common Sense Antiques” on beautiful Terra Ceia Island
columns in .pdf format. His book “HOW TO BE A
FURNITURE DETECTIVE” is now available for $18.95 plus Come visit our shop featuring furniture,
$3.00 shipping. Send check or money order for $21.95 to pottery, artwork, or that 3 2 4
Fred Taylor, PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423
Fred and Gail Taylor’s DVD, “IDENTIFICATION OF one of a kind gift.
OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE”, ($17.00 + $3.00
S&H) are also available at the same address. For 6441 U.S. Highway 19
more information call (800) 387-6377 (9AM-4PM P.O. Box 378
Eastern, M-F only), fax 352-563-2916, or e-mail info@ Terra Ceia, FL 34250
furnituredetective.com.
All items are also available directly from the website, Hours: Tue – Sat 10-5 5
www.furnituredetective.com