Valentine's Day at Merchants House @ 1,000 Degrees!
iExhibit: The Golden Age of Valentines
We’re launching our new online ‘iExhibit’ gallery with a display of mid-19th century Valentine cards from the Merchant’s House Archive. Read about the history of Valentines in America, and see images of extravagant “confections of affection” from the Museum’s collection. Visit merchantshouse.org/virtual/exhibits.html.
Spend Valentine’s Day at the Merchant’s House
Saturday, February 14, 12 to 5 p.m.
19th-Century Love Speak: St. Valentine’s Day Open House
From romantic poetry and lacy valentine cards to tussie-mussies and flirtatious fans — learn how 19th-century lovers spoke volumes without saying a single word. Included with regular admission, reservations not required.
Artisan Glass Blowers Recreate Museum’s Globes
In 2007 the Museum completed restoration of its matching pair of gas chandeliers, ca. 1852, that hang in the double parlors. The next step is replicating the cut-glass glass globes to replace those that are damaged, or missing.
This week, the staff headed over to Red Hook to Pier Glass, the studio of Kevin Kutch and Mary Ellen Buxton, to see glass blowing in action.
Kevin Klutch blows molten glass inside a cherry-wood mold, held tight by Mary Ellen Buxton. The mold was custom-carved to replicate the shape of the Museum’s existing 19th-century chandelier globes.
Once the finished glass globe has cooled — it’s about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in this picture — the bottom and top rims will be cut off and the glass will be frosted. Then the globe will travel to a glass-cutting shop where the pattern will be added.