Selections from the Mulvane Art Museum’s Permanent Collection exhibit opens July 5
Released: June 10, 2009
TOPEKA - The Mulvane Art Museum will feature selections from the Permanent Collection beginning July 5. Japanese color prints, Tsubas and Yatates donated by Robert F. W. Whitcomb will be on display in the second floor north gallery and Meissen figurines donated by Barbara Wilson will be on display in the Harrison Gallery. The exhibition will close Jan. 17, 2010.
Whitcomb, a 1915 graduate of Washburn, spent many years in Japan as a branch officer for a New York bank. During his time there he became interested in Japanese prints, Tsubas (sword guards) and Yatates (pen and ink containers). Whitcomb collected prints that fall into three groups: figure prints from the 1730s-1830s, landscape; genre and Surimono from 1810 to 1850; and prints showing foreigners in Japan from 1860 to1880.
The primary purpose of a Tsuba is to balance a sword and prevent the hand from sliding down the blade. Early Tsubas were made of leather in an iron or wooden frame which was sometimes lacquered for strength and stability. Later in the Muromachi period (1392-1572), when Tsuba became an industry separate from sword manufacture, the iron Tsuba evolved. As time and skills progressed the Tsuba evolved into works of art with engravings and piercework.
Yatate are small portable writing sets which provided a carrying box for the ink cotton, a shaft for a brush and possibly a letter opener. Japanese writing was traditionally done using the usual writing set comprised of an inking stone, a small stick of solid ink (which is turned to liquid, usable ink by grinding on the inking stone and watering) and brushes. During the Kamakura era (1185-1333), the idea of ink-saturated cotton appeared. By touching the cotton with a brush, one made it ready to write and by enclosing the cotton in a little box, it was possible to carry the set around without risk of spilling ink.
Whitecomb donated his collections to the Mulvane Art Museum in 1968 and 1975 in honor of Frances Davis Whittemore, director of the Washburn art department from 1912 to 1929.
Barbara Wilson’s collection of Meissen figurines was donated in 2007. In the history of European/Continental porcelain, the German factory of Meissen, near Dresden, has long held a prominent position. In 1710, Meissen began producing decorative and fine utilitarian pieces of true hard-paste porcelain. Meissen figurines display a mastery of the medium as the shapes and forms have intricate detailing and each piece is hand painted. While the mid-18th century period is considered to be the golden years of the factory, the Victorian era saw a renewed interest in beautiful items from the past. Beginning in 1870, revival pieces were updated and reissued to conform to lavish Victorian taste. As the 20th century dawned, Meissen added new models and the factory continues to produce high quality tableware and figurines in classic and contemporary designs.
Museum and ArtLab hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. No admission is charged. The museum is closed major holidays.
The Mulvane Art Museum is located on the Washburn University campus at 17th and Jewell Streets, adjacent to White Concert Hall. For additional information, call 785-670-1124, e-mail mulvane.info@washburn.edu, or go to http://www.washburn.edu/mulvane/.
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