Friday, April 22, 2011

Hidden Assets

Young Boy's Waistcoat, c. 1720, linen with silk-embroidered appliques.
One of the non-profit organizations favored by The Devoted Classicist is Decorative Arts Trust, a support group of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.  A wonderful article titled Hidden Assets written by Anne Cunningham O'Neill was featured in the March, 2011, issue of Memphis Magazine and can be viewed by going to this link:

http://www.memphismagazine.com/Memphis-Magazine/March-2011/Hidden-Assets/

Chinese dish, c. 1662-1722, porcelain.
Decorative Arts Trust has a long history of education and promoting interest in silver, porcelain, ceramics, textiles, glass, furniture and all the other disciplines normally associated with the decorative arts as well as architecture, garden design, and interior design.  More information can also been seen at the website http://www.decorativeartstrust.com/.

Food safe, American, c. 1825-1835, walnut primary wood.
In recent years, there has been an increased effort to acquire objects made in the region.  The food safe pictured above was made in the northeast corner of Tennessee or just over the line into Virginia.  It is a walnut (with cherry and light wood inlay, poplar secondary) serving piece, circa 1825 to 1835, featuring painted punched tin panels in the doors that protected the stored baked goods from flying insects in addition to being decorative.

John J. Tackett is proud to soon start his third term as President of Decorative Arts Trust.  All photos shown here are courtesy of Decorative Arts Trust.

13 comments:

  1. Hello:
    Many congratulations on your election to continue as President of The Decorative Arts Trust. Societies such as these need and depend on 'professional' volunteers, such as yourself, to ensure their continued success.

    We love the food safe - a remarkable piece of furniture.

    A very Happy Easter.

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  2. These are all wonderful pieces that you have shown. The waistcoat in itself is a remarkable pice of work that has stood the test of time.

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  3. Now, if the Trust sold a replica of that food safe I'd probably switch off the subzero! A beautiful piece of furniture.

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  4. "primary reason for its existence is to collect and preserve really cool stuff" That's they way to put it.

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  5. Blue, I would need one that could keep ice cream before giving up a refrigerator/freezer. But come to think of it, my grandmother, who had a more primitive safe, made delicious ice cream with my older cousins taking turns on the crank.

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  6. Congratulations on your third term. That waistcoat is very reminicsent of some of the Chinese court jackets. Just beautiful!

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  7. They are lucky to have you! During my trip to Memphis, I was very impressed by the enthusiastic support given to the Trust and the museum by its patrons. Unless it's contemporary art or photography, Atlanta's art patrons don't seem to support the more traditional decorative arts. A shame, really.

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  8. Oh, that waistcoat! Hooray for the Trust.

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  9. Cheers all around for your devoted service and your community's support for the arts of your region. I have a walnut pie safe with lovely square nails. As a bride in 1975 I was influenced by the country movement and during the years my taste has changed. But this piece sits in my hallway, with its lovely patina and reminds me that furniture made by loving hands is good karma.

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  10. oh what a beautiful weistcoat /Marie

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  11. Congratulations. I love the embroidery patterns in the first photo. All the best.

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  12. Congratulations on your third term as President of Decorative Arts Trust John. Each of the items you have shown is like a jewel. Bravo to the trust for preserving such unique and historical treasures for future generations to admire and learn.

    Cheers ~ Deborah

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