Passion for the Exotic: Lockwood de Forest, Frederic Church
This exhibition was on display from December 12, 2014 to February 28, 2016.
There were 54 objects in this exhibition but right now we can only show you 48 of them. Some objects may not be viewable because they were on loan; this might be due to issues involving image rights or simply because there is no digitized image for the objects.
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Designed by Lockwood de Forest (1850-1932), this room, which served as the Carnegie family library, celebrates a passion for the exotic that blossomed in the second half of the nineteenth century. Collectors and painters flocked to the Middle and Far East for examples of extraordinary craftsmanship, inspiration for interior decoration, and unusual settings to paint. Among them were de Forest and the landscape painter Frederic E. Church (1826-1900), de Forest's painting teacher and advisor in foreign travel and design.
Lockwood de Forest became the principal promoter of Indian design for American aesthetic interiors. During his yearlong honeymoon in 1881 to India, he established a studio in Ahmedabad, in Gujarat. Guided by Muggunbhai Hutheesing, a Jain merchant, he employed master craftsmen to create decorative teak wood and brass panels that he imported to the United States.
Known informally as the Teak Room, this room is the most complete de Forest interoir remaining in its original location. The patterned wall stenciling, lacquered in yellow, creates a golden light, and suggests Indian jalis (screens). Although the walls and ceiling were painted on canvas in situ, the carved teak came from de Forest's studio in India, using primarily native designs he adapted. This exhibition provides the first opportunity to experience, in a de Forest-created room, the range of de Forest's achievements with objects he produced in his workshop or collected, a selection of his paintings, and those of Church, his mentor.
- Tile (Ottoman Empire (present day Syria)), late 16th–early 17th century
- tin-glazed earthenware, underglaze decoration.
- Gift of Mrs. Russell C. Veit.
- 1951-66-9
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Ewer, Globular Ewer, 18th century
- zinc and copper alloy; cast, engraved, inlaid with silver (bidri ware).
- Lent by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1915....
- 3.2012.2
- Box, Box, 19th century
- filigree silver.
- Lent by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Robert W. and Lockwood de....
- 3.2012.3
- Window Of Brass Foils, Window with perforated brass plaques, 1882–1912
- brass, wood frame.
- Henry Taves and Posy Bass.
- 4.2012.2
- Armband, Bracelet, 19th century
- gold and silk.
- Lent by Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago-their number 82329-2.
- 6.2012.1
- There are 6 images of this object.
- Chair, Chair, 1881
- turned, carved, painted, gilt and lacquered wood.
- Lent by Olana State Historic Site.
- 7.2012.1
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Drawing, East Façade, Olana, 1872
- brush and watercolor, pen and ink, graphite on paper.
- Lent by Olana State Historic Site.
- 7.2012.3
- Drawing, Exterior Cornice, Dining Room, Olana, 1872
- brush and watercolor, graphite on paper.
- Lent by Olana State Historic Site.
- 7.2012.4
- Painting, Broken Column, Parthenon, 1869
- brush and oil, graphite on paperboard.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2018-36-1
- Book, Entrée d’Un Mosquée a Alexandrie, plate 3, from Les Arts Arabes:...
- cloth and printed paper.
- Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington, DC.
- 13.2012.4
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Short Necklace Or Armlet (India), 19th century
- gold, rubies, emeralds, silk.
- Lent by Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. Their number 82155.
- 6.2012.4
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Sample Panel, Carved Wood, 1881–92
- teak.
- Henry Taves and Posy Bass.
- 4.2012.4
- There are 7 images of this object.
- Drawing, Broken Column of the Parthenon, Athens, 1869
- brush and oil, graphite on paperboard.
- Gift of Louis P. Church.
- 1917-4-574-a
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 4 images and 1 video of this object.
- Fireback, Model C, 1884–1900
- cast iron.
- Collection of Joe and Molly Seiler.
- 14.2013.1
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Niche Panel, Carved wood niche with Meta de Forest portrait, ca. 1881
- carved teak and carved ivory.
- Henry Taves and Posy Bass.
- 4.2012.5
- There are 6 images of this object.
- Tazza, Silver Tazza, ca. 1830
- repoussé and chased raised silver.
- Henry Taves and Posy Bass.
- 4.2012.6
- There are 6 images of this object.
- Shawl Border (France), early 19th century
- silk.
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 1941-67-2
- Book, Copy of One of the Bhudder Windows at Ahmedabad, plate IV from Indian...
- cloth covered cardboard and printed paper.
- Collection of Joe and Molly Seiler.
- 14.2013.3
- Drawing, Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, March 1868
- brush and oil, graphite on cardboard.
- Gift of Louis P. Church.
- 1917-4-341
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Jali Panel (India), late 19th century
- cut and carved red sandstone.
- Indianapolis Museum of Art, Gift of Frederick M. Ayres, William C. Bobbs,....
- 20.2013.1
- This object was made by Lockwood de Forest.
- Jali Panel (India), late 19th century
- cut and carved red sandstone.
- Indianapolis Museum of Art, Gift of Frederick M. Ayres, William C. Bobbs,....
- 20.2013.1
- This object was made by Lockwood de Forest.
- Shawl Fragment (India), early 19th century
- wool.
- Gift of Mrs. Evsie Beloussoff.
- 1954-58-1
- Drawing, Study of Ruins in a Landscape, January 24, 1878
- brush and oil paint on thin paperboard, mounted on very thick paperboard.
- Gifted by a Private New Hampshire Collector, courtesy of Sullivan Goss - An....
- 2013-59-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Folding Chair (USA), 1863–75
- carved, joined and turned wood or mahogany, woven wool upholstery, metal tacks.
- Gift of Marilyn Friedman.
- 2000-74-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 7 images of this object.
- Drawing, Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives
- brush and oil, pen and black ink, graphite on paperboard.
- 1917-4-763
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 5 images of this object.
- Headboard, ca. 1885
- chased and cut steel, brass, pierced copper over carved and joined teak wood.
- Lent by Bryn Mawr College.
- 5.2012.1
- Tall Clock, Tall case clock, ca. 1880
- mahogany, carved teak with dial faces of gilded and patinated metal, glass.
- Cleveland Museum of Art, The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund,1992.70.
- 21.2013.1
- Cut-out Decorative Foil (India), 1881–1912
- cut and perforated sheet brass.
- Gift of Sullivan Goss-An American Gallery.
- 2014-42-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images and 1 video of this object.
- Tall Clock, Tall case clock, ca. 1880
- mahogany, carved teak with dial faces of gilded and patinated metal, glass.
- Cleveland Museum of Art, The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund,1992.70.
- 21.2013.1
- Drawing, Near Jericho, Wady Kilt, March 20, 1876
- brush and oil paint on thin paperboard.
- Gifted by a Private Santa Barbara Collector, courtesy of Sullivan Goss - An....
- 2013-38-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images and 1 video of this object.
- Cut-out Decorative Foil (India), 1881–1912
- cut and perforated sheet brass.
- Gift of Sullivan Goss-An American Gallery.
- 2014-42-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images and 1 video of this object.
- Drawing, Ed Deir Rock Temple, Petra, late February 1868
- brush and oil, graphite on thick paper.
- Gift of Louis P. Church.
- 1917-4-485-b
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Drawing, Classical Ruins, Syria, May 1868
- graphite, oil on academy board.
- Gift of Louis P. Church.
- 1917-4-1081
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Sidewall (possibly England), 1880–1890
- block printed on ribbed paper.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1931-45-120
- This object is part of the Wallcoverings collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Tile, 1301–50
- luster-glazed and painted earthenware, rolled and pierced silver (later mount).
- Gift of Ruth Friedman in memory of Harry G. Friedman.
- 1966-3-5-a/c
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.