Stylish Books Symposium

Stylish Books Symposium

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

The Stylish Books: Designing Philadelphia Furniture exhibition examines the Library Company’s collection related to furniture making in Philadelphia, illustrating the influence of books and showing style changes over time. Printed designs spread new ideas. Artisans, as well as their patrons, relied on books as a way to learn about the latest fashions in interior decoration. Books, periodicals, and advertisements generated consumer desire for these goods.  The symposium will further explore and expand on how printed books impacted and inspired furniture design and style. Participants will enjoy talks from expert scholars and have an opportunity to view the exhibition. We hope to encourage and stimulate thought and conversation on this topic. Join us for an exciting day of research and discovery.

More about the Symposium 

Schedule:

8:15-9:00AM:

Registration and light breakfast

9-9:15AM:

Welcome

Dr. Michael Barsanti, Edwin Wolf 2nd Director, Library Company of Philadelphia

Linda August, Curator of Art & Artifacts, Library Company of Philadelphia

9:15-10:15AM:

Keynote address

The Divergent Paths of Two Masters of British 18th-Century Design, Thomas Johnson and Thomas Sheraton

Brock Jobe, Professor Emeritus of American Decorative Arts, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

10:15-10:45AM:

Break

10:45-12PM:

Chippendale’s Director. The Rise of Print and Promotion in 18th-Century England

Femke Speelberg, Associate Curator of Historic Ornament, Design and Architecture in the Department of Drawings & Prints, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Thomas Chippendale’s Director in America: Popularity, Parody, and Perseverance

Alyce Englund, Assistant Curator of American Decorative Arts, Metropolitan Museum of Art

12-12:45

From Design Book to Design–The Philadelphia Cabinetmakers’ Companions and Guides, 1750-1800

Alexandra Kirtley, Montgomery-Garvan Curator of American Decorative Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Final Remarks

Lunch on your own

More about the Speakers.

This exhibition and programming is supported in part by the Center for American Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Freeman’s; and Jay Robert Stiefel.