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Dutch Royal Silver: April 30–July 4, 2005
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Washington, DC — The Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Royal Netherlands Embassy present Dutch Royal Silver: Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix. This special exhibition, held in the Corcoran’s Salon Doré, features a selection of rarely seen decorative works from the private collection of the Royal House of Orange-Nassau, many of which have never before been displayed in the United States. Dutch Royal Silver: Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix is on view at the Corcoran Gallery of Art from April 30 through July 4, 2005. “The design and production of Dutch silver reveals a very high level of art and craft,” explains Laura Coyle, Corcoran Curator of European Art. “We are honored to take part in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in the United States. This special exhibition celebrates the Queen’s twenty-five year reign and offers the American public a rare glimpse of the beautiful and historical silver decorative arts in the collection of the Dutch Royal House.” The exhibition includes decorative works from the early nineteenth century such as a diamond-encrusted silver and gold jewelry box created to honor the Silver Jubilee of King Willem III in 1874 and a magnificent table decoration crowned with a nautilus shell. This shell, frequently represented in Dutch still life paintings, suggests the importance of the sea for the Dutch, an appropriate theme for the piece which was a gift to King Willem III from the province of Zeeland, a group of islands in southwest Holland. Other pieces on view celebrating Dutch maritime culture include a table decoration presented by the Royal Dutch Navy and ship pilot organization to King Willem III and Queen Emma in 1870. This intricate piece features an elaborate model of the ship Queen Emma of the Netherlands in silver and vermeil (gilded silver). The model features banners that stream from the tip of the tallest mast and a delicate network of lines and billowing golden sails and tiny silver life boats dangling from the ship’s sides. Most of the pieces in the exhibition, while created for use, are also tour-de-force examples of Dutch craftsmanship. A candelabra and matching bowl, for example, are pieces from an extensive table service that includes complete and exquisitely detailed silverware settings for a multitude of diners. Like many other pieces in the exhibition, this table setting still graces formal dinners hosted by Queen Beatrix and other members of the royal family. “The Netherlands Embassy is pleased to collaborate with the Corcoran Gallery of Art to present Dutch Royal Silver: Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix. The Dutch have long been recognized for their artistry in silver and the Royal Netherlands Embassy, as well as the Dutch business community, welcomes this opportunity to present this private collection in Washington, which is our way of honoring Her Majesty Queen Beatrix on her special day,” said Boudewijn J. van Eenennaam, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the U.S. ABOUT THE DUTCH ROYAL HOUSE EXHIBITION SPONSORSHIP Additional support has been provided by Sotheby's Institute of Art - London, a division of Cambridge Information Group, and Jo Ann and John Mason. ABOUT THE SALON DORE PUBLIC PROGRAMS Flowers Dutch Style René Hofstede, owner of NYC’s famous Mille Fiori Floral Design, was selected by the Dutch Ambassador to create a memorable environment in the Dutch Residence. He was selected for his creativity and vision both of which have made him the premier floral arranger for fashion designers, decorators, media and other exclusive clients. Peter Jennings, Armani, Estée Lauder, W, JLo, The New Yorker, NYT, Vanity Fair and Time, Inc. are among his many clients. Mr. Hofstede presents, with gorgeous slides, a most delightful evening, showing images from his Dutch Residence display and other spectacular floral arrangements he has designed. Modern Dutch Style/ Exhibition Viewing Internationally recognized Dutch silversmith, Wouter van Baalen, captivates us with a discussion about his contemporary silver artwork and the modern craft of silversmithing. Perhaps best known for his ability to manipulate silver’s reflective qualities, van Baalen produces pieces that suggest a mesmerizing sense of movement. His work is in the collection of the Dutch Royal family and in other major European collections. His modern silver contrasts with the traditional royal silver on display at the Corcoran in Dutch Royal Silver: Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix which participants are invited to view after his talk. PRESS INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART Founded in 1890, Corcoran College of Art + Design is Washington’s only 4-year college of art and design, offers a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program in Fine Art (painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics and digital art), Graphic Design, Digital Media Design, Photography and Photojournalism; a two-year Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree program in Fine Art, Photography, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Digital Media Design, a Masters of Arts (MA) degree in Interior Design, a Masters of Arts in Decorative Arts, Teaching and Education, as well as a 5 year combined BFA/MA in Teaching; and a Continuing Education Program encompassing more than 250 courses and seven certificate programs aimed at meeting the needs of part-time adult students; as well as year-round classes designed especially for children and teens. The Continuing Education Program, which offers part-time credit and non-credit classes for children and adults, draws more than 3,500 participants each year. The Corcoran Gallery of Art is located at New York Avenue and 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC, and is open every day, except Tuesday, 10 am – 5 pm and until 9 pm on Thursday. The museum is closed every Tuesday. Admission to the Corcoran is: $6.75 for adults; $4.75 for senior citizens; $3 for students with current ID; and $12 for families. Admission is free for Members and children under 12. Admission is “pay as you wish” on Monday all day and on Thursday after 5 pm. A satellite educational facility is located at the Corcoran’s historic Fillmore School in Georgetown at 1801 35th Street, NW. The public information line for the museum is (202) 639-1700; :: View images and further details from this exhibition
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