Along the Colonnade
A Cup of History: Reeves Center Debuts New Collection, Gallery BY LAURE STEVENS -LUBIN
T
he Reeves Center’s new Armorial Porcelain Gallery, which opened Oct. 21, 2010, highlights a treasure: the David Sanctuary Howard Collection of Chinese armorial porcelain coffee cups. Gerry Lenfest ’53, ’55L and Bo DuBose III ’62 donated the more than 500 handpainted pieces. The late David Howard was a worldwide authority on armorial export porcelain. “David’s history with Washington and Lee went back to the 1970s,” said his widow, Angela Howard. “He had great affection for the University. He would be absolutely delighted and amazed if he walked into the new gallery. Although each cup is a modest object in itself, the overall massed display is stunning, and every one has a unique history with a story to tell.” “This may be the most comprehensive collection of armorial porcelain in existence,” said Ron Fuchs, curator of the Reeves Collection. “Spanning from 1710 to 1860, it contains most of the history of armorial porcelain. It represents a cross section of the English-speaking world at that time, including every religious group
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and a range of classes from merchants to the aristocracy.” The new gallery that houses the collection was a year and half in the making. “We wanted to create a modern gallery space that is secure and well lit, while respecting the historical integrity of the building,” explained Fuchs. The fireplace was reopened and historic colors painted on the walls. New mahogany cases with brass fittings have a period look. “The wall of cups is like a library,” he said. In the main exhibit, 13 cups illustrate how to decipher coats of arms. “There are many threads which bind together individual groups of cups in different ways,” noted Howard, “and the central changing display case will provide an opportunity for gathering together some of these groups, each of which will open a different window onto the history of the 18th-century China trade.” The gallery features three interactive touch screens, where visitors can obtain detailed information about each cup, including, in some cases, portraits of the original owners. Visitors can also learn about W&L’s coat
of arms and even design their own. When the viewer draws in close, the minutiae of each painting on each cup are revealed—unicorns and nymphs, dragons and owls, fish and frogs. “A coffee cup is accessible,” said Howard. “Unlike a large tureen, you are able to take it out and pass it around. These are not purely aesthetic objects; they are an important educational resource.” “Coats of arms are a visual puzzle,” Fuchs noted. “The design elements and their arrangement all said certain things in particular about the owner of the cup, including that person’s gender, marital status and ancestry. In the 18th century, most people could read a coat of arms. “The China trade then was like the Internet today,” he continued. “Smart, ambitious people went into it because of the opportunity to amass great wealth. After a few successful voyages, a captain or merchant had likely made enough money to purchase an estate and retire as gentry. All these people wanted a coat of arms. It symbolized that one had arrived at economic, political and social status.”
Magazine
2/22/11 12:30 PM