The Elegant Harp

By Louise Irvine During Esther Underhay’s Elegant Harp recital at WMODA, her husband, Paul, challenged us to spot the harp in the Art Nouveau gallery. First, I pointed out Arion on a Seahorse but later realized that he is carrying a lyre, which is different. Then I noticed that the

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A Magical Ardmore Safari

by Louise Irvine Magnificent wild beasts tamed by Zulu riders take us on a journey of exploration through Africa’s diverse continent. The Travelers of Africa collection at WMODA was first developed by Ardmore in 2010 when South Africa hosted the World Cup Soccer and sports fans traveled to the continent

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Down the Drain in London

The Great Stink to the Great Smog by Louise Irvine The current pandemic prompted me to look back through the archives to see how a pioneering Victorian potter responded to an earlier public health crisis. For centuries, fighting disease meant battling foul smells as the miasma theory was widely held.

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Lighting up the World of WMODA

by Louise Irvine WMODA visitors are dazzled by the spectacular crystal chandeliers hanging throughout the museum. The six Marie Therese style chandeliers were made in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. They once added glamour to the dining room at the Dania Beach Jai Alai Fronton and they were

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The Secret Garden

by Louise Irvine During lockdown, the more fortunate among us have found solace in our gardens, whether it be a patch of paradise in tropical Florida or a spring garden bursting into bloom in the north. For more than a century, the Royal Doulton Potteries have helped embellish gardens and

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Creepy Creatures

by Louise Irvine The current #CuratorBattle for the #CreepiestObject in a museum had us exploring WMODA for our scariest candidates. This sinister face jug by the Martin Brothers is a strong contender as well as this grotesque creature. What do you think? Many of our WMODA visitors stop in their

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A Night at the Museum

From a Special Correspondent We have been wondering what’s going on at WMODA during the lockdown. As you know our museum is a very magical place with our Fantastique exhibit and enchanted garden but even we were surprised to receive this report from our special correspondent. The Royal Doulton garden

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Chihuly Baskets & Blankets

“Baskets was the first series that I did that really took advantage of the molten properties of the glassblowing process. Now, for the first time, I really felt I was breaking new ground with an ancient technique. I was struck by the grace of their slumped, sagging forms. I wanted

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Operation Noah – Ardmore

By Louise Irvine How humans respond to natural and man-made disasters is often uplifting as can be seen in the Ardmore exhibit at WMODA. The marvelous Ardmore boats laden with animals were inspired by Operation Noah, a huge conservation project to relocate wildlife in Zimbabwe when the Zambezi River was

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@ Home with WMODA

Take a stroll around the original Wiener museum on our 360 tour. Navigate around the galleries with your mouse using the directional arrows. Explore the historical collections from the Pottery Pioneers of the 18th century to the innovators of the Art Deco era. Continue on an African safari with Ardmore

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