You may have come across a porcelain hair receiver at an estate sale or while thrifting and wondered what it was. I have seen them grouped with tea sets, separated, and once, sold with an egg cup as a warming cover. The quotidian items associated with grooming and presentation are some of the most personal […]
Hair Receivers, Femininity and Victorian Eroticism Read More »
Whether you are curious about what something is, how it was used, or why people thought it was important, Material Culture Club is here to enlighten you. If you have a puzzling piece at home or see something you cannot fathom at a resale shop, chances are I will cover it here or have already
This Blog will change the way you look at ‘stuff’ Read More »
Today we will explore the significance of the hall stand as a piece of furniture in middle class homes during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Hall stands, like many other culturally significant pieces of furniture of the era, embodied the standing and affluence of the household. In middle class households, where the expression
Hall Stands, French Impressionism, and Middle Class Status Read More »
When asked to think of an example of Art Nouveau style, most people cite flowing vines, flowers, and the curling arabesques of hair on the female subjects of posters and advertisements. While lesser known as a category, the subject of the sea and sea creatures were incredibly important to many contemporary artists of the time.
Art Nouveau and the Sea Read More »