Glass has always been primarily used for functional purposes, but the Hillwood Museum is showcasing the artistic and beautiful side of glass in its exhibition titled “Glass: Art. Beauty. Design.” The exhibition features a wide range of goblets, plates, and bottles from the private collection of Marjorie Merriweather Post, a prominent businesswoman and philanthropist. Post’s collection of 1,600 glass works is extraordinary, with some pieces having once belonged to the Russian imperial family.
While the exhibition primarily focuses on Post’s collection, curator Wilfried Zeisler has gone beyond the aesthetic and chronological boundaries of the collection. He has incorporated ancient glass pieces as well as works by contemporary glass artists that are both accomplished and thought-provoking. Some of these modern pieces even subtly comment on Post’s mansion and collection in ways that she may not have appreciated.
Located in Hillwood’s Adirondack Building, the exhibition opens with a display of ancient artifacts, including a 2nd-century Roman ewer from the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. The exhibition also showcases numerous objects from Russia, acquired by Post during her time in Moscow in the 1930s. These include goblets engraved with Russian empresses’ insignia and portraits. Other countries represented in the exhibition include the United States, Italy, China, and France, with notable pieces like a mid-20th-century electric radiator made of glass.
One section of the exhibition, titled “More Light!,” features an intricate chandelier and eight pairs of elaborate candelabras. Among the candelabras are remarkable pieces recently attributed to Baccarat, a renowned French firm, which have not been publicly displayed since the 1930s.
Artist Fred Wilson brings a different perspective to the exhibition with his creation of cross-cultural chandeliers inspired by Shakespeare’s Othello. Another of Wilson’s Othello-themed chandeliers replaces the usual fixture in the mansion’s breakfast room during the exhibition.
The exhibition also features works by local artists that go beyond the scope of Post’s glass collection. For example, artist Tim Tate incorporates blown and cast glass in a vessel adorned with flowers, housing an embedded video of a short Thomas Edison film from 1896 depicting two men dancing. This piece seamlessly combines contemporary and historical elements, as well as political and decorative aspects.
In alignment with Post’s known passions, the exhibition includes works by Debora Moore, Karen LaMonte, and Beth Lipman. Moore creates large, realistic models of orchids using blown and sculpted glass, reminiscent of the flowers that Post adored. LaMonte explores fashion, another of Post’s interests, with cast-glass models of translucent dresses that incorporate women’s body forms and features.
Lipman’s contribution to the exhibition challenges the concept of glass with a precarious sculpture in the mansion’s dining room. Two sets of glass table settings, clear and black, mirror each other. The plates, bowls, and goblets seem to be in disarray, appearing as if they are slipping off the glass surface. This sculpture reflects the contradictions of glass, solid in reality but fluid in appearance, injecting a sense of anarchy into the meticulously ordered Hillwood environment.
LaMonte’s ethereal and flesh-like sculptures are on display in both the Adirondack Building and the mansion. They are showcased alongside some of Post’s own gowns, near drapery that complements the subtle colors of the glass. These corporeal yet ghostly dresses evoke the presence of a person who has passed away but whose essence is still felt—a fitting tribute to the late Marjorie Merriweather Post.
The “Glass: Art. Beauty. Design.” exhibition at Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens is a captivating exploration of the multifaceted nature of glass. The exhibition offers a glimpse into the extraordinary glass collection of Marjorie Merriweather Post while pushing artistic boundaries with contemporary works that provoke thought and challenge conventions. Visitors to the exhibition will be mesmerized by the beauty and artistry of these glass creations, each with its own story to tell.
Plan your visit to “Glass: Art. Beauty. Design.” at Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, located at 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Tickets are priced at $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for college students, $5 for ages 18 and under, and free for members and children under 6. Don’t miss out on experiencing this unique and captivating exhibition.
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