Cabinet on a stand
Last weekend, I went to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts to see the John Singer Sargent Watercolors exhibit, which was quite wonderful. I’m a big JSS fan. But I’m not here to tell you about that. One of the smaller exhibits that caught my eye as I was trying to find my way through the maze that is the MFA was the much smaller Art of the English Regency. (I just had to go back to make sure Elena hadn’t covered this in her posts about her visit to the MFA – she didn’t, but if you haven’t read her posts on Regency Pianos and Esoteric Strings, you should).
Although this exhibit is called Art of the English Regency, it’s mostly about Regency interior design with a solid representation of Thomas Hope, the father of interior design. It was a vivid illustration of the frequently outlandish design choices made by the Beau Monde.
Griffin Tripod STands
Some of the furniture was along the elegant lines we would like to think of when we decorate our Regency townhouses, but quite a lot of it reflected the ubiquitous Egyptian Revival and equally insane furniture designs. My particular favorite was the pair of griffin tripod stands complete with clawed feet (Griffin claws, I suppose). But we should not ignore the cabinet on a stand attributed to James Newton, which combines the elegant Regency lines with decorations that look like lion’s head doorknockers and Egyptian sarcophagi.
George IV
Of course, your room needs to be lighted and what better than chimera candlesticks and griffin wall lights (perhaps to complement your griffin tripod stand). And, you it wouldn’t be complete with out a (very flattering) bust of George IV.
This little jewel of an exhibit was an excellent reminder of the kinds of interiors our characters might have chosen to live in. It was fun to visit and maybe fun to live with. What do you think?
This is wonderful, Myretta, except I’m kicking myself because somehow I missed it! My daughters are very much into all sorts of ancient mythology, so we spent a lot of time in the Greek, Roman and Egyptian exhibits. I must’ve gotten distracted somehow and not checked the catalog carefully. This means we have to get back there sometime!
Make sure to let me know when you’re back. It was a small but fun exhibit. I just stumbled upon it by accident.
This is my kind of exhibit! I wish I lived closer! Thanks for sharing these lovely pieces with us. I am a big fan of Hope’s furniture and designs.
This looks so lovely–and fun! My favorite departments in so many museums are found in Decorative Arts…and it always seems to be quiet and un-crowded, too 🙂
It’s true, Amanda. My friend and I had the exhibit to ourselves. It was great.