Women’s Day
March 8th is International Women’s Day and at WMODA we are looking at the important role played by women in the British ceramic industry during the 19th century. In the Staffordshire Potteries women worked as assistants to their menfolk and were a hidden workforce. They were often involved in strenuous
Behind the Painted Mask
The vogue for hanging wall masks of chic young ladies was at its peak in the Art Deco era of the 1930s. Clarice Cliff, one of the most famous Art Deco designers, produced a number of ‘wall medallions’ for her Bizarre range by Wilkinson, which are hanging in the Carnival
Parrots in Porcelain
The Macaw in Paradise is one of the most spectacular creations by the Boehm porcelain company and the two bird and orchid compositions on display in our current Biophilia exhibition are attracting a lot of attention. They are shown alongside some striking feather mosaics and Amazon Parrot wings lovingly preserved
Artistry in Action
Discover the artistry behind the decorative arts during our WMODA After Dark event on March 7th. Watch expert artists and craftsmen at work as they demonstrate the skills involved in throwing and hand-painting pottery, fusing glass, and making silver jewelry.Consider whether you would like to try making a work of
Polikoff Library
WMODA is very proud to have received the Victor and Muriel Polikoff Library for the study of Wedgwood and Related English Ceramics. The late Victor and Muriel Polikoff were ardent collectors and scholars of Wedgwood and this very generous gift will enable the museum to offer greater educational resources to
Venetian Masks by Balocoloc
Balocoloc is represented in the USA by Giorgio Lurcotta, who came to Florida from his native Venice in 2001 to introduce his family’s company. With his team, he hand-crafts exquisite papier-mâché masks at his shop in Orlando. He is a true Venetian mask artisan and is part of a centuries-old
Zany Love Stories
With Valentine’s Day approaching we are highlighting the love stories from the Commedia dell’Arte which feature in our latest exhibition Carnival & Cabaret and its spectacular Lladró centerpiece. All the performances of the Italian comedy revolved around young lovers, the Innamorati, who are continually thwarted by their parents, notably Pantalone
Serpentine Ceramics
When Louise Irvine was curating Biophilia ǀ The Elements at WMODA, she was surprised to find lots of serpentine designs in the ceramics collection to display with Christopher Marley’s snake specimens. For instance, the Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre Tree Serpent design depicts a snake coiling around a tree and shooting out
Generous Gifts
Some of the most striking exhibits in Carnival & Cabaret have been loaned or donated to the museum by collectors who wish to support our mission of celebrating and preserving the fired arts of ceramics and arts. Jeff and Penny Spellens of California recently acquired the rarest version of the
Black History Month
February is Black History month and at WMODA we are exploring how the Zulus have honored their heritage at Ardmore Ceramic Art in South Africa. As well as all the whimsical safari animals and vases decorated with local flora and fauna on display at the museum, the Ardmore sculptors have