Generous Gifts
Some of the most striking exhibits in Carnival & Cabaret have been loaned or donated to the museum by collectors who wish to support our mission of celebrating and preserving the fired arts of ceramics and arts. Jeff and Penny Spellens of California recently acquired the rarest version of the
Black History Month
February is Black History month and at WMODA we are exploring how the Zulus have honored their heritage at Ardmore Ceramic Art in South Africa. As well as all the whimsical safari animals and vases decorated with local flora and fauna on display at the museum, the Ardmore sculptors have
The Golden Years of Goldscheider
Goldscheider production was interrupted during World War One but the roaring twenties saw a glittering revival thanks mainly to Marcel Goldscheider who became technical and artistic director having studied ceramic art in Vienna, France and England. A new decorative technique for Viennese Faience was patented in 1923 which combined underglaze
Goldscheider’s Golden Debut
Goldscheider of Vienna now has a greater prominence at WMODA museum thanks to the generosity of Arthur Wiener and other keen collectors. The Goldscheider family first became involved in the ceramics business in the 1870s. One of their ancestors was the foremost gold refiner and alchemist in Prague during the
Adam and Eve
By Louise Irvine Adam and Eve were the first man and woman according to the creation theory. In the Bible, God formed Adam from dust and placed him in the Garden of Eden where he is told he can eat freely except from the tree of the knowledge of good
Masquerade Parties
Masques became popular in Tudor Times at the court of King Henry VIII. These lavish, dramatic entertainments were performed by masked players representing mythological or allegorical figures. Renaissance masques were commissioned from famous dramatists of the era and fused music, dance, poetry, lavish costumes and spectacular sets into one splendid
The Magic of Murano
Our pop-up exhibit of Venetian glass opens on February 8th and highlights masterpieces from the WMODA collection by Lino Tagliapietra and the late Pino Signoretto, as well as selected work by earlier 20th century maestros. The exhibit is curated by Sergio Gnesin, who wrote the reference book about Ermanno Nason,
A Porcelain Performance
Many of the exhibits in Carnival & Cabaret come from the magnificent collection of David Farin, and his late wife Esther. Their passion for European porcelain was inspired by their travels around the world and they acquired more than two thousand pieces. Their vast collection from factories such as Meissen,
Fashion Butterflies
Fashion students from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale have been studying the ceramic art at WMODA to seek inspiration for their new swim wear collections. Their teacher Chelsea Rousso worked together with Louise Irvine to introduce the young designers to historical styles of the early 20th century, such as
Candlemas Day
The festival of Candlemas on February 2nd is a blend of pagan rites, Christian ceremonial, and popular customs. Candlemas Day marks the end of the mid-winter Christmas celebrations and was strikingly portrayed in Wedgwood’s Fairyland Lustre collection by Daisy Makeig Jones. The Candlemas festival is derived from an ancient Roman ceremony