Milwaukee Art Museum Highlights 20th-Century Silver as a Modernist Medium
The Milwaukee Art Museum is showcasing its collection of modern American silver, featuring works from the 20th century that illustrate how silversmithing evolved into a medium for modernist expression. Key pieces include George Washington Maher's 1912 'Martelé' flatware for Rockledge, Reed & Barton's 1928 'Modernist' compote inspired by skyscrapers, a 1932 covered cup by Arthur Nevill Kirk with Eliel Saarinen, Paul Lobel's circa 1934 tea service, Peter Müller-Munk's 1934-35 'Silvermode' vase, and Donald Colflesh's 1958-60 'Circa '70' tea and coffee service. These objects, some currently on view in exhibitions like 'Beyond Heights: Skyscrapers and the Human Experience' through September 8, demonstrate diverse approaches to production, craftsmanship, and aesthetics within modernism.
Key facts
- The Milwaukee Art Museum holds a significant collection of modern American silver from the 20th century.
- Featured works span from 1912 to 1960, highlighting silversmithing as a medium for modernist design.
- Objects include pieces by designers such as George Washington Maher, Reed & Barton, Arthur Nevill Kirk, Paul Lobel, Peter Müller-Munk, and Donald Colflesh.
- Some items are on display in the museum's galleries or in the exhibition 'Beyond Heights: Skyscrapers and the Human Experience' through September 8, 2024.
- The collection illustrates how American silver designers engaged with modernism through techniques, forms, and cultural influences.
Entities
Artists
- George Washington Maher
- Arthur Nevill Kirk
- Eliel Saarinen
- Paul Lobel
- Peter Müller-Munk
- Donald Colflesh
Institutions
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- Gorham Manufacturing Company
- Reed & Barton
- Cranbrook Academy of Art
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Wilcox Silver Plate Company
- Poole Silver Company
- Tiffany & Company
Locations
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Chicago, Illinois
- Winona, Minnesota
- Taunton, Massachusetts
- Providence, Rhode Island
- New York, New York
- Paris, France