Wedgwood Wonder

An expansive new collection of wedgwood
comes to the birmingham museum of art, revealing the entire history of the storied English company and making the BMA the source for all things Wedgwood.

Combine 1,400 objects from the Birmingham Museum of Art’s existing Dwight and Lucille Beeson Wedgwood Collection with the recent acquisition of the 8,000-object Buten Wedgwood Collection and you get the largest and most comprehensive collection of Wedgwood ceramics outside of England, and the only collection of its kind in the U.S. The year 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the company, and at the BMA you can find Wedgwood objects from every era of that storied company’s history.
“We are thrilled,” says Anne Forschler-Tarrasch, Ph.D., The Marguerite Jones Harbert and John M. Harbert III Curator of Decorative Arts at the Birmingham Museum of Art. “Surprisingly, there is very little overlap between these two important collections. They complement each other in their strengths and together provide the nation with an invaluable resource for the study of what is undoubtedly one of the most important ceramics manufactories in history.”

The wonders of decorative art have always been fascinating to Forschler-Tarrasch “As an undergrad I was an anthropology major, and I really loved objects and what they meant to the societies that created them.

“You look at an object and you think what was its function, who made it, and what was the society like? There is a lot of anthropology involved in the decorative arts. I think the public loves getting a little information about social history, economics and technology,” she says.

With the new exhibition, “The entire history of the Wedgwood company is revealed. I think we can learn a lot about what was going on at the company during various eras. I found the collection a fascinating glimpse into the company and the society that it operated in. They were very innovative and tried to come up with new products,” Forschler-Tarrasch says. “I find it very exciting that they always provided space for studio potters—space and resources to come in and create.”

The Birmingham Museum of Art entered into discussions with the Buten family and the Wedgwood Society of New York in 2005. At the time, both the Butens and the Wedgwood Society sought a new, permanent home for the collection, which was then on long-term loan to Nassau County in New York.

“We worked on this acquisition for three and a half years. We did not have a lot of access to the collection and when we went up to pack it last August, we saw it in its entirety for the first time. We were surprised at how many samples, trial pieces and things that never went into real production are there,” says Forschler-Tarrasch. “It is a great thing for the museum and city to have. It is a resource unlike any other in the country.”

“When I was in Long Island in 2005, the collection was housed in one of the Guggenheim homes; a lot of it was in storage. The then president of the Wedgwood Society in New York was there as well. He indicated they may be looking for a new home. I said, ‘why not Birmingham?’ It took about three and a half years of negotiation to bring it here. We were persistent because we knew it would be wonderful for the museum,” Forschler-Tarrasch says.

“Other esteemed institutions wanted this collection but none could present a suitable venue that would appropriately highlight this national cultural asset,” says Jeffrey Tulman, DDS, president of the Wedgwood Society of New York. “The Buten Collection belongs in Birmingham.”

“We wanted the collection to be kept together and placed with a public institution that could care for it and ensure that it could be seen and enjoyed by all,” says Bernie Starr, a director of the Wedgwood Society of New York. “Thanks to the enthusiasm of the Museum staff, the expertise of Anne Forschler-Tarrasch, and the assistance of Museum board member Michael Straus in negotiating terms with Nassau County, we were able to accomplish the location of these very important collections in Birmingham.”
The Buten family concurred.

“Along with the contagious enthusiasm of its staff, the Birmingham Museum of Art was chosen because of its outstanding and glamorous Beeson Collection, now augmented in a serious way by the 19th and 20th century strengths of Buten,” says David Buten, son of collection founders Harry and Nettie Buten and former Director of the Buten Museum of Wedgwood. “Whereas England’s Wedgwood Museum focuses on very significant pieces, Birmingham’s collection is much more representative of the entire production in terms of stylistic values and vogues from 1759 to current day. This is an enormously important collection.”

Within the new collection, Forschler-Tarrasch says, the mid-20th century material will be very surprising to people. “Potters had the ability to create some things that are very different and free-form and almost sculptural. They never went into full production but they’ll be on display in the new exhibit.”

The Buten Collection will be displayed beginning November 19 in the Lynn and Bunting Gallery adjoining the Dwight and Lucille Beeson Wedgwood Gallery.This month’s opening is marked by special events at the BMA including a lecture on November 19 by Forschler-Tarrasch that will highlight many of the works in the newly acquired Buten Wedgwood Collection. Lord Wedgood will be on hand to present a special gift to the Museum in celebration of Wedgwood’s 250th anniversary. Guests will receive the new book by Tricia Foley, At Home with Wedgwood: The Art of the Table, as a gift from Wedgwood and signed by Lord Wedgwood (while supplies last). •

EXHIBIT 411

The Buten Collection will be
displayed beginning November 19 in the Lynn and Bunting Gallery adjoining the Beeson Wedgwood Gallery. Opening festivities include a lecture, special appearance and gift presentation by Lord Wedgwood.

Wedgwood at Bromberg’s
In addition to the events on November 19, Lord Wedgwood will be signing products at Bromberg’s in Mountain Brook on November 20 from 10 a.m. to noon and at The Summit from 1-3 p.m. Items from The Distinguished House of Wedgwood 250th Anniversary Collection will be available as will signature anniversary products such as the Saxon Blue Grecian Clock ($175) and the annual Jasperware ® ornament ($34.95). A special Wedgwood ornament tree will be on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art beginning November 2. Museum visitors can register at the BMA to win the tree in time for a perfect Wedgwood Christmas at home. •

WEDGWOOD AT 250

Wedgwood celebrates 250 years of artistry and classic design in 2009. Wedgwood’s remarkable story spans two and a half centuries.
From its humble British beginnings to iconic global status, Wedgwood has a rich English classic history.

A unique 250th Anniversary Book – At Home with Wedgwood: Art of the Table –by author Tricia Foley features featuring nearly 200 pages of lifestyle images of the company’s exemplary fashion and innovation over the last 250 years.

Lord Wedgwood will be touring the world with his own exclusively designed Distinguished House of Wedgwood collection.
The company has grown under Josiah Wedgwood’s enduring philosophy. WWRD US, LLC employs 3,700 people worldwide. A new Wedgwood Museum in the UK will exhibit 6,000 pottery artifacts, 75,000 manuscripts, 680 extraordinary pattern books along with the results of 10,000 trials conducted by Josiah, all meticulously recorded in the name of ceramic innovation.