A Fair to Remember: The Impact of World's Fairs on Progress in Art and Science

John La Farge, American. Lunette, ca. 1880–82. Stained glass.
(Image by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)   Details   DMCA

Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs, 1851--1939 is a groundbreaking exhibition of stunning decorative arts which premiered at world's fairs from 1851 to 1939.

Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World’s Fairs, 1851–1939
(Image by Nelson Atkins Museum of Art)   Details   DMCA

Co-organized by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, the exhibition includes nearly 200 pieces of furniture, metalwork, ceramics, glass, textiles, and jewelry.

Georges Fouquet, French. Corsage Ornament, ca. 1923. Jade, onyx, diamonds.
(Image by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)   Details   DMCA

Many of these extraordinary objects have never before been seen in the United States.

The exhibition at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art runs through August 19.

Nelson-Atkins Museum with Claes Oldenburg shuttlecock sculpture
(Image by Nelson-Atkins Museum)   Details   DMCA

The exhibit will re-open at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 13, 2012. In 2013 it will travel to New Orleans and North Carolina.

Rene Jules Lalique, French. Brooch, ca. 1903. Gold, glass, enamel, sapphire.
(Image by The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore)   Details   DMCA

Decorative arts are on loan from 10 private collections and 36 museums (11 international and 25 from the US) including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, Art Institute of Chicago, The Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Designmuseum Danmark in Copenhagen, and the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. 

India (Brahmapur). Chair and Stool, ca. 1855. Ebony, ivory.
(Image by Victoria & Albert, London)   Details   DMCA

Many of the items on display are nearly, or over, 100 years old, yet seem strikingly modern.

Keller Freres, France. Pitcher, 1900. Gilded silver.
(Image by Musee des Arts Decoratifs)   Details   DMCA

This decorative, modern-looking screen appears to be a masterpiece of oil painting.

Hashio Kiyoshi, Japanese. Morning Sea, 1915. Wood screen.
(Image by Allentown Art Museum, Pennsylvania)   Details   DMCA

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