The furniture in the collections range from the 16th to the 20th century and include examples of British, American, and Continental origin. Among the highlights are an eighteenth-century Philadelphia high chest, an elaborate French orbital clock by Jean Baptiste Baillon, and a massive sixteenth-century refectory table. Although many pieces are associated with known makers, this is an area in the collections that requires further research.
The period sconces and chandeliers that illuminate the Rosenbach were conserved in 2002-2003 during the museum’s restoration and expansion project. These fixtures range in period from the early 19th to the early 20th century. They originally provided light from candles, gas, and electricity, and are fashioned of crystal and a variety of plated and alloyed metals. Portable lighting devices are also represented in the collections, from Argand lamps to a ruby glass candelabra, to candlesticks in a range of media.
The textiles in the collection include Rosenbach family table linens–most dating to the 19th century-which are changed regularly along with place settings in the museum’s dining room. Tapestries; needlework that appears in the form of pillows, furniture upholstery, and screens; as well as clothing that is contained, for the most part, in the Marianne Moore collection, are also included in this medium.
This blog post was written by Andrew White Dealers and collectors in rare and lovely things, the founding brothers of the Rosenbach had a profound connection to their Jewish heritage—reflected particularly in the collecting and scholarly pursuits of the younger brother, Dr. Abraham Rosenbach. Dr. Rosenbach was president of the New York Jewish Historical Society …
This small French flag is a nearly 100-year-old souvenir of the visit of an important World War I figure to Philadelphia. According to its envelope, this is a “Flag thrown from Marshal Joffre’s automobile while visiting Phila. Pa- May 9-1917.” Joseph Jacques Joffre had been commander of the French army during the Battle of the …
Following up on last week’s post on our cockfighting chair, I thought I’d highlight another interesting set of chairs in our collection in anticipation of next Thursday’s conversation on the history of the chair with Witold Rybczynski. If you’ve been on a Rosenbach house tour, you’ve seen these English mahogany chairs around the dining room …
In two weeks, on September 22, our “In Conversation with the Rosenbach” series will feature a conversation on the history of the chair with architectural writer Witold Rybczynski, author of Now I Sit Me Down: From Klismos to Plastic Chair, A Natural History. There are more than 60 chairs in the Rosenbach’s decorative arts collection, but …
We have just passed through college graduation season, with its new graduates roaming the streets in caps and gowns. The Rosenbach actually has a fair amount of academic dress represented in our collections owing to degrees accumulated by our founder A.S.W. Rosenbach, and even more by Marianne Moore, so I thought I’d post a few. …
We have posted before about William Morris’s Kelmscott Press, which strove to elevate the craft of hand-printing in the late 19th-century. but the Rosenbach also has an interesting example of Morris’s work in another arena: textile design. William Morris (1834-1896) wore many hats in his life: poet, novelist, artist, printer, manufacturer, political activist, and more. …