In addition to a collection of Vance Kirkland’s artwork and his studio (which you can read about here), the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art in Denver, Colorado has nearly 39,000 square feet of additional space which houses an international decorative arts collection, along with a collection focused on Colorado artists covering 1820 through 1990.
The items are densely displayed, such that it is almost sensory overload to walk into a room. The art is arranged in “salon style” with fine art (paintings and sculpture) shown in the same galleries with decorative art.
Red/Blue Chair and End Table, designed by Gerrit Rietveld, 1918 and 1923. Can this really be comfortable/useful?
Harlequin Tableware, designed by Frederick Hurten Rhead, 1936-1937. Sold exclusively in Woolworth’s! Harlequin was made by the Homer Laughlin China Co. the same company that makes Fiestaware, which is why many of the colors are similar.
Decorative art is defined as “arts that are concerned with the design and decoration of objects that are chiefly prized for their utility” (like dishware and furniture), whereas fine arts are items that are to be appreciated primarily for their imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content (such as sculpture and painting).
We both really enjoy when utilitarian objects like a dresser or plates are designed to be beautiful, and displayed for appreciation, so we found many items to enjoy in the museum. There were also quite a few Frank Lloyd Wright items on display, which was an added bonus for us.
The cover photo is an Espresso/Demitasse Set and Coffee Cup, Lithuanian, 1997 or before.
Chair from the SC Johnson Wax Administration Building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1937. This chair has a reputation, as its original version had only three legs, and employees kept tipping over. It’s hard to imagine Wright conceding a correction was needed.
Midway Garden Plates, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1914.
Peacock Chair designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1921. I definitely feel like Wright designed furniture for fashion over form.
Wiggle Side Chair & Stool, designed by Frank Gehry, 1969-1972. This looks ridiculously uncomfortable.
Marshmallow Sofa designed by Irving Harper, 1956. Imagine peeling yourself off of this bad boy on a hot, humid day.
Marilyn Chair, designed by Roger Reutimann, 2017. You can’t be serious?
Art Nouveau Cabinet Server, designed by Endre Thek, c. 1900. Situated on it is a Chalmont Planter designed by Hector Guimard, 1890s.
Arts & Crafts Side Chair designed by George Montague Ellwood, c. 1902. This is one way to ensure your guests don’t get too comfy and stay awhile.
Yellow Meadows (The Home of the Artist on South Platte River Near Bailey, Colo), Frank Vavra, 1930s.
Woods Interior, John E. Thompson, 1920. Thompson is considered the first truly modernist painter in Colorado.
Dining Suite from the Broad Margin House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1951. It’s actually two tables. Note the cutouts in the back of the chairs. The green lamp on the table is a Teco Table Lamp designed by William Bryce Mundie, 1900-1905. The lamp on the left was designed by Wright and is composed of “art glass” pieces, 1903-1904.
Doug was thrilled to see this Demitasse Set designed by Michael Graves, 1989 — he actually owned a set, but it was divested in the great purge before #vanlife!
Wiener Werkstatte Decanter, Cordials and Tumbler, attributed to Otto Prutscher, c. 1912.
Coffee Set designed by Kolomon Moser, c. 1901-1902. This looks like it stepped right out of the 1970s to me.
Twisted Vine Lamp Base with Dragonfly Lamp Shade, designed by Clara Wolcott Driscoll and manufactured by Tiffany Studios, c. 1907.
Jardiniere with Reticulated Grill Work, c. 1890.
Schramberger Coffee and Tea Service designed by Eva Zeisel, 1928-1930. It’s very Frank Lloyd Wright-esque, if you ask me.
I loved the colors and smooth edges on this Bauhaus Tea Service designed by Margarete Heymann Lobenstein Marks, 1930.
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