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Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden History of Delftware and the Women Behind the Iconic Ceramic
2512269uKUT6CMoEmRP8hgR8nhKA
32.8708995,-80.0785082
166407
Location
3380 Ashley River Rd
Charleston, SC
Description

Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden History of Delftware and the Women Behind the Iconic Ceramic In the fall of 2019, over 75 rare pieces of 17th- and 18th-century Delftware were rediscovered in a historic Manhattan townhouse. Decorative arts expert Genevieve Wheeler Brown unveils the history behind this recent finding. Brown explores how these vibrant ceramics both represent a beloved decorative art form and illuminate the powerful, often overlooked roles of women across the centuries. Learn the stories of female Delftware pottery owners, such as Barbara Rotteveel, founder of the influential Three Bells factory in 1671, alongside patrons like Queen Mary II, who popularized Delftware in royal courts. Brown also highlights pioneering women collectors from the 19th century-including Frances Louisa Morgan, wife of J. Pierpont Morgan, and Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt, wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt-who championed the preservation of decorative arts and paved the way for women in museum leadership. Using rich visual materials, including period objects and artwork, Brown looks beyond the iconic cobalt glaze, uncovering a vibrant narrative of the artistry, female agency, and cultural history embedded in Delftware. Brown's book, Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden History of Delftware and the Women Behind the Iconic Ceramic (Pegasus Books), will be available for purchase. About the Author As a decorative art advisor and writer with over thirty years in the art world, including a decade with Christie's in New York and London, Genevieve Wheeler Brown has been actively involved in the community of Delftware. She has also participated on the Antiques Roadshow as an appraiser with an eye out for overlooked "treasure." In her role, she has held innumerable objects, from fake Stradivari violins to gold-mounted Faberge eggs, considering their value but also the stories they can tell. Beyond Blue and White has been named an NPR Here & Now Editors' Pick, The Art Newspaper's Book Bag Selection and recently received a glowing reviews by The Magazine ANTIQUES and The Wall Street Journal. Date & Time: Saturday, March 21st at 9:30am Location: Festival Hall, 56 Beaufain Street, Charleston, SC Tickets