Mornings consisted of lectures with hands-on workshops, and we went on house tours in the afternoon to illustrate what was discussed. Being able to work one-on-one with the collection helped reinforce what we learned. For example, a lecture on silver by the Metropolitan Museum’s curator Beth Carver Wees was followed with a workshop where we were able to handle silver pieces such as a Paul Revere tankard. The Institute provided me with a good understanding of different types of mediums and also how to differentiate between stylistic (Queen Anne, Federal, Empire, etc.) and regional variations (Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, etc.).
Federal furniture workshop where we examined chairs and card tables. |
Some of the tools used in joinery. |
Examples of legs with inlay designs made by Stephen Latta. |
Touring
the conservation lab, we saw objects in various stages of treatment. Winterthur
and the University of Delaware jointly run a conservation program, and one of
their students showed us how she stitched a tear in a painting using a
microscope. They told us that patience is the most important trait for a
conservator, and I could definitely see why!
A textile where the right side was exposed to sunlight, which completely faded the color. |
Additionally,
we went on a field trip to Odessa, DE, to see several historic houses and to Newcastle,
to see the home George Read, Jr., built in 1801, a wonderful example of
Georgian architecture. Read wanted a house just like the ones he saw in
Philadelphia.
Read House and Gardens in New Castle, Delaware. |
One of the things that most interested me was the influence
of printed sources on design, and how certain images were copied across various
mediums. It was fascinating to see the similarities and differences in printing
techniques on textiles (block printing) and transferware ceramics, which
initially used copperplates on hide glue (which is almost like gelatin), then
later wet tissue paper. I’m also interested in craftsmen who were Library
Company members (which includes cabinetmakers William Savery and Benjamin
Randolph), the books they had access to, and how those books influenced their
work. I’m excited to apply what I learned to our collection of art &
artifacts.
Linda August
Reference Librarian and Curator of Art & Artifacts
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