New York, New York

In the midst of New York City’s concrete jungle, we encountered a wide array of America’s material culture.  We saw everything from early Americana to Gilded Age furniture, from remarkable collections of Spanish art to the cramped interiors of a late 19^th century tenement. New York City definitely provided us with an environment for learning and discovery.

In January, my classmates and I saw New York City in a new light, completely different from your average tourist trip. Our time in Gotham marked our final field study trip as Lois F. McNeil Fellows. Over the last two years we have traveled to London, Bath, Charleston, Philadelphia, Cooperstown, Boston, Richmond, Washington, D.C., Hartford, Charlotte, and countless places in between. In each of these locations, we studied America’s rich material culture and formed relationships with friends and alumni of the Winterthur Program.

Facilitated by Jackie Killian and Greg Landrey, the New York field study was a wonderful capstone adventure.  We had a fantastic time!

Day #1: Visiting the Schorsch sale at Sotheby’s and then onto Christie’s for their Americana auction (above). Taking a connoisseur’s approach to furniture (below).

Day #2: We began the day with John Bidwell, Curator of Printed Books and Bindings, at the Morgan Library (above) and then went to Gracie Mansion, the  residence of New York City’s Mayor, and the New York Yacht Club.

Day #3: The Dyckman Farmhouse (above), 1784, is a rare survivor from 18th century Manhattan. We admired fine art from the collection of Archer Milton Huntington at the Hispanic Society of America (below).

Day #4: Beginning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art allowed us the opportunity to connect with alumni and see the fine work of George Schastey (above). Schastey made this museum case (below). It now displays objects related to or made by him. Schastey displaying Schastey, displaying Schastey!  We also visited the antiques gallery of Bernard and S. Dean Levy and the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.

Day #5: P.E. Guerin, a hardware manufacturing business, has been in lower Manhattan since 1857. We watched molten brass being poured into sand moulds for furniture hardware (above). Kevin showed us some details of the “concrete jungle” on the High Line during our walk to the shop (below). The bottom photo shows the Gothic Revival entrance gate to Green-Wood Cemetery.

This trip served as one of the final stepping stones in our education from Winterthur. It increased our familiarity with the auction world, exposed us to ground breaking research, and provided us the opportunity to display our skills, talents, and interests. Now, just to finish those theses by the end of April!

By Matthew Skic, Rosalie Hooper, and Willie Granston, WPAMC Class of 2016