The Artists of Ardmore – Fiso Radebe
The Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts was delighted to welcome Fiso Radebe, an Ardmore artist from South Africa on November 15th. Fiso is one of the bright young stars of the Ardmore studio and he was the star of our Wednesday at WMODA evening as he demonstrated his painting skills
Chihuly
Experience the mystery and magic of glass at this stunning installation of Dale Chihuly’s work at WMODA. Chihuly is the world’s foremost glass artist and his awesome Macchia series celebrates his remarkable powers of innovation and imagination. In Italian ‘macchia’ suggests the spontaneous outpouring of artistic sensibility and in choosing
Out of Africa into WMODA
There are many wise African sayings about unity and community. Ardmore Ceramic Art in South Africa works in the spirit of Ubuntu, meaning we are because of others. Another African proverb advises “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The Ardmore
Biophilia ǀ A Cabinet of Curiosities
The Christopher Marley ǀ Biophilia exhibition which opens on December 5th at WMODA is presented like a Cabinet of Curiosities, a precursor of the modern museum. Also known as a Wunderkammer or Cabinet of Wonder, these were encyclopedic collections of natural and man-made objects reflecting our universal curiosity and fascination
Papillons in Porcelain
The buzz surrounding the beautiful butterfly art in the Christopher Marley ǀ Biophilia exhibition, which opens on December 5th has inspired us to look at the vogue for butterfly dancing in the early 20th century. While Christopher has preserved the fragile and floating beauty of actual butterflies in his art,
Ardmore’s Zany Zebras
The Ardmore artists make zebra riding look easy but in fact, they are usually too aggressive to train. They kick and bite and their backs are not really strong enough to support the weight of a man. Nevertheless, there were numerous attempts to tame them in the late 19th century.
Friendship at WMODA
Supermodel Miranda Kerr is the face of Royal Albert china. “Friendship is the basis of the collection,” she says, when asked about the inspiration behind her Royal Albert tea wares. It’s about “having tea with friends and taking time to sit down and connect, especially in the busy world of
Alchemy & Porcelain
Chinese translucent porcelain, which became known in Europe in medieval times, was referred to as white gold, valued as equal to the most noble metal. The composition and method of manufacture remained a mystery in Europe until 1708 when the German alchemist, Johann Bottger, discovered the secret of hard-paste porcelain.
The Art of Tea
The afternoon tea in the Hot Glass gallery, hosted by Michael Doulton and Louise Irvine on November 9th, was a sell out success. Many ladies dressed specially for the occasion in gorgeous hats to rival Downton Abbey. Louise presented anecdotes from the history of tea drinking and advised on the
Teatime Scandal
Sensational scandals have long inspired lively conversation around the tea table. Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, a lifelong friend of Queen Victoria, is credited with starting the traditional English afternoon tea party in the 1840s. Apparently she was no stranger to gossip. The Duchess experienced a sinking feeling in the