Josiah Wedgwood Portland Vase 20th century Jasperware
Gift of James P. and Barbara Gammon Flint, Class of 1931 Permanent Collection 1985: Vase donated. -Podcast written and recorded by Hillary Shusterman, Class of 2014
Unidentified artist Lohan Chair ca. 1890 Rosewood
Gift of Holcombe and Ethelind Austin in Memory of Professor J. Arthur Martin who taught religion at Wheaton from 1947-1983 Permanent Collection 1986: Chair donated. Donated in 1986 by the Austins in memory of Professor of Religion J. Arthur Martin, this 19th century Chinese Lohan Chair is a symbol of honor celebrating an important member of the Wheaton community. In 1959, Professor Martin developed the idea for a series of lectures that would provide students “an opportunity to hear and to come to know distinguished theologians and philosophers and to profit from the inspiration and guidance of a person of such intellectual stature as is usually found in our leading universities.” He brought the idea to Henry Witte Otis, who funded The Marjorie Otis Memorial Lecture Series in Religion in memory of his first wife, Marjorie Maxfield Otis. The Otis Lecture Series brought impressive speakers such as Paul J. Tillich and Eleanor Roosevelt to the Wheaton campus. (An image of Mrs. Roosevelt meeting with students is displayed in the Social Responsibility section of the exhibition.) The Austins’ choice of object with which to remember Professor Martin was clearly purposeful. Martin brought honor to Wheaton through his academic contributions and establishment of the Otis Lectures. The Lohan chair is a type of furniture designated for an individual of high honor, such as an elderly relative, a religious leader, or an important visitor. (Lohan is a Chinese word meaning “fit for a saint.”) The wide seat and curvilinear back are structured to allow one to sit comfortably cross-legged, placing the respected sitter in a welcoming and open position, encouraging him to bestow knowledge upon those gathered in his company.
-Written by Maddie Bailis, Class of 2013
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