Masquerade

As we prepare for our Fantastique exhibition at WMODA, we are discovering how mask-wearing has retained its appeal from ancient Greek theater via the Venetian Carnival and decadent cabarets of Europe to the Halloween parties of today. The word mask descends from the old French masque, meaning a face covering.

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Wearable Wedgwood

          In the past we’ve featured Wedgwood shoe heels, now buttons are in the spotlight. Wedgwood Jasper ware buttons date back to the 18th century. They were made in a variety of sizes and were mounted in copper, steel and sometimes pearl. An impressive collection of

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Beach Police

While you soak up the rays in your teeny bikini this summer, spare a thought for the bathing suit pioneers of the early 1900s. Annette Kellermann, the Australian swimmer and movie star, advocated one-piece fitted bathing suits for women. In 1907, at the height of her popularity, she was arrested

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Pleased as Punch

We’re delighted with the popularity of our Carnival & Cabaret exhibition and we’re “pleased as Punch” to highlight one of the most colorful characters in the show. Discover how the grotesque Pulcinello from the Italian commedia dell’Arte became a popular children’s character in the traditional Punch & Judy puppet show.

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Wearable Glass

At WMODA, we are fascinated by wearable glass and we have several pieces by Chelsea Rousso on display. Chelsea is a fashion writer, teacher and fused glass artist. She weaves ribbons and strands of glass into female forms some of which are designed to be worn. Guests at our WMODA

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Majolica in the Movies

By Louise Irvine We were inspired to delve into the history of our Minton Mermaids jardinière after seeing its twin at the Hamptons Jewelry & Objets d’Art show. Nicolaus Boston, the highly regarded Majolica expert, considers the grey shell version at WMODA to be one of the finest produced by

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Art on Fire Event

The Chihuly chandelier was sparkling in the evening sun and the Ardmore Ceramic Art made a dazzling debut at the Art on Fire event in the Hamptons on August 5. One of Arthur Wiener’s latest acquisitions, a Chihuly glass tower, stole the show and became a popular photo and selfie

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Word Search

We are always thinking about interesting ways that you can enjoy WMODA at home. Elyse Buchanan, who works in our collections management department, is a big fan of word search puzzles. She has compiled a WMODA word search inspired by the fired arts exhibits on display in the museum. You

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Nature’s Art

Fossils from Green River Stone - Arthur Wiener, the founder of WMODA, has many collecting interests. As well as his love for the fired arts, he is fascinated by nature’s art - fossils formed over 50 million years ago at the Green River formation in Wyoming. At his Hamptons home,

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Circus Cavalcade

Ceramic Art of Michele Coxon - This monkey bareback rider in Circus Cavalcade is making visitors smile in the Carnival & Cabaret exhibition. The artist, Michele Coxon, is one of Britain’s best loved children’s illustrators and her books, featuring fluffy kittens and cute puppies, have sold over a million copies

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