Art for Wellness

How can they be that old and look that good! Oh, the things museums preserve for us! Pair of gold earrings, 6th century BC, Etruscan, gold. Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain. About an inch and a half high. Wonder for a moment about the craftsperson who made these. What tools did they use? Who were they making these for? How long did it take?

Woman with Flowers is by Alphonse Mucha, the Czech artist. Mucha became nearly synonymous with Art Nouveau with his focus on nature and curves, especially the whiplash curve. Theater posters, like this one, were one of his specialities. Apparently, Sarah Bernhardt was the first person he designed a poster for and it was an instant hit! What thoughts and feelings come up for you when you focus on the swirls and curves?

For the Little One, 1896, by William Merritt Chase, oil on canvas. This is Chase's wife, Alice. Chase focused on the effects of light. An observer might wonder what Alice is thinking or feeling as a mother to five children, albeit having a moment to herself.

​Bombé chest of drawers from about 1780. Made in Boston, Massachusetts. Intriguingly, bombé furniture (the bulging shape) was only made in Boston, no other colonial cities. 

Lacquer Paintings of Various Subjects - Bird and Willow in Snow, 1882, by Shibata Zeshin, Japanese.  The bold effect of the color in this painting is due to Zeshin's use of lacquer. He developed and perfected this painting style of using both ink and lacquer. 

Quilt, eagle pattern, 1837 - 50.  Possibly made in New England. Culture-American. Cotton. May have been made to commemorate Michigan becoming the 26th state since it has 26 stars.

Teapot, 1760 - 65 made by Paul Revere, Jr., Boston. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Paul Revere was not just a patriot but an exemplary silversmith and a successful businessman. This teapot displays his skills in crafting silver in the Rococo style. He later quickly adapted to the Federal/Neoclassical style.

​Over 2000 years old with one little chip on it! It's described as "a tour-de-force of ancient glass production," by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This glass bowl dates to the late 1st century BCE and was made by the Romans. It's just over 8 inches in diameter.

Let your eyes wander... the shape... the latticework... the leaves... the decoration at the edge of the base... the rabbits as the feet. Imagine what this glaze would feel like to touch... so smooth. Consider the excellent condition of this 12th century piece. That moment of distraction may have helped you to destress! This celadon incense burner with openwork geometric design is from the Goryeo period.

Charles Robert Ashbee, English designer of this decanter, was a prominent architect and designer of the Arts & Crafts era.  His designs were rounded, often with elongated handles. The decanter dates to 1901 and is glass and silver.