thedrifter
05-28-08, 11:21 AM
FINE ART AND ANTIQUES: Marine Corps celebrates new museum
The National Museum of the Marine Corps will quickly become the standard by which other major military and history museums are measured.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 1:49 PM EDT
By Dr. Lori Special to The Packet
On Memorial Day, especially, the thoughts and prayers of Americans are with the members of the armed services stationed around the globe. These brave and highly trained men and women and their families help to weave the fabric of contemporary history. The heroic story of one of the elite branches of the U.S. military — the Marine Corps — has been put on permanent and marvelous display in a new museum. Debuting in 2006, the National Museum of the Marine Corps is a state-of-the- art exhibition and research center. If you are looking for a day trip that will certainly highlight the American experience, the Marine Corps museum is located on a 35-acre site adjacent to the military base in Quantico, Va.
Interestingly, the birthplace of the Marines was actually a pub located in Philadelphia, called the Tun Tavern. Legend has it that Capt. Samuel Nicholas began recruiting Marines there on Nov. 10, 1775. Early in America’s history, the Second Continental Congress decided to raise two battalions of Marines, and by 1798, an official act of Congress created the U.S. Marine Corps.
The new museum’s architecture rivals that of major national museums. Its collections span the story of the Marine Corps. The postmodern museum design by the architectural firm of Fentress Bradburn makes the National Museum of the Marine Corps stunningly visible from Interstate 95. About 20 miles from Washington, D.C., the museum’s architectural centerpiece ascends 210 feet high at its pinnacle. It is a dramatic glass-and-steel structure inspired by the world-famous image of a group of Marines raising the American flag over Iwo Jima during World War II. Based on Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal’s world-famous image, the overall form of the museum immediately reminds visitors of the struggle, sacrifice and success of the Marines throughout history.
The museum reflects the Marines’ dedication and highlights the Corps’ rich history. For instance, the main entrance plaza stirs memories of approaching a beachhead from military watercraft, the interior skylight space feels like a ship’s interior and the exhibition galleries use interactive signage, audio-video, and lasers to simulate the Marine experience from boot camp to tour of duty. The exhibition designers’ attention to detail is obvious as they employed mammoth-scale photographs, famous quotations about Marine heroism, and life-size mannequins to make the visitor’s experience a strikingly true-to-life didactic and emotional one.
Some of the impressive objects on display include the first and second American flags raised on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, in February 1945, an F4U Corsair fighter aircraft like those flown by Marines in the Pacific during World War II, a UH-1E “Huey” helicopter used during the Vietnam War, the famed Mameluke sword of the type carried by Marine officers since the early 19th century, and a leatherneck stock worn around the necks of 18th-century Marines to protect from sword slashes of the throat. Of course, “leatherneck” remains the modern day nickname for Marines.
Another attractive aspect of the museum is its combat art gallery. Featuring works of original art by various combat artists, the expansive art gallery hosts artwork highlighting subjects including active Marines on duty and American military history. The works of American artists including Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952), James Montgomery Flagg (1977-1960), Staff Sgt. Tom Lovel (1909-1997) and Col. Donna Neary (born 1941) all demonstrate the attributes of valor and commitment. The story of combat artists and their subjects provide a stellar art exhibition within a museum already chock- full of military objects.
After visiting the National Museum of the Marine Corps, it’s my opinion that this museum will quickly become the standard by which other major contemporary military and history museums are measured. This American history museum is already an unmistakable “must-see” destination as it stands sentinel as an important learning center, breathtaking exhibition space, and humbling site to behold.
On the Web: www.usmcmuseum.org.
Costly cleaning mistakes
At my public appraisal events, many people ask about how to clean vintage and antique objects. I typically tell audience members that less is more. That’s right, when in doubt — don’t clean it. But if you just have to clean it, don’t be overzealous.
Of course, with so many objects made of so many materials, there is no one correct answer to the question. But let me share a couple real-life antiques cleaning mistakes I’ve gleaned along the way.
If you have a large collection of antiques, remember to count as you clean.
I met one woman who cleaned 12 18th-century silver spoons in her kitchen sink. As she polished each spoon, she placed it in the sink. Then she removed all of the spoons from the sink in a bunch and placed them on the countertop. Having completed her task, she began washing dishes.
Later that day, as she ran her garbage disposal, she heard a terrible sound. You know where I am going with this — she had ground up one of those precious spoons. Of course, she thought she had all 12 spoons placed safely on the countertop when, in fact, one spoon was quietly awaiting its demise in the deep, dark disposal.
Neglecting to count her spoons cost her a bundle in that cleaning mishap. It cost her not only that spoon but the collective value of the set.
Here’s another story.
We’ve all dropped ice cubes into a warm drink and listened as they crack in response to the temperature change. Well, submerging a piece of antique glass in a sink filled with warm water is not much different. The shock to the system has been known to crack delicate glass beyond repair.
Many people attempt to clean their glassware in this manner because they want their pieces to sparkle when I review and appraise them. Please — I’d rather tell you that your brilliant piece of cut glass is dirty than tell you that it’s damaged and dramatically decreased in value, with a big crack down its side.
As I often say, “It’s better to leave something precious a little dirty than to clean it and risk its ruin.”
As seen on Comcast CN8 TV, Lori Verderame is an antiques appraiser, syndicated columnist and museum curator with the Ph.D. in art history. Visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.
Ellie
The National Museum of the Marine Corps will quickly become the standard by which other major military and history museums are measured.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 1:49 PM EDT
By Dr. Lori Special to The Packet
On Memorial Day, especially, the thoughts and prayers of Americans are with the members of the armed services stationed around the globe. These brave and highly trained men and women and their families help to weave the fabric of contemporary history. The heroic story of one of the elite branches of the U.S. military — the Marine Corps — has been put on permanent and marvelous display in a new museum. Debuting in 2006, the National Museum of the Marine Corps is a state-of-the- art exhibition and research center. If you are looking for a day trip that will certainly highlight the American experience, the Marine Corps museum is located on a 35-acre site adjacent to the military base in Quantico, Va.
Interestingly, the birthplace of the Marines was actually a pub located in Philadelphia, called the Tun Tavern. Legend has it that Capt. Samuel Nicholas began recruiting Marines there on Nov. 10, 1775. Early in America’s history, the Second Continental Congress decided to raise two battalions of Marines, and by 1798, an official act of Congress created the U.S. Marine Corps.
The new museum’s architecture rivals that of major national museums. Its collections span the story of the Marine Corps. The postmodern museum design by the architectural firm of Fentress Bradburn makes the National Museum of the Marine Corps stunningly visible from Interstate 95. About 20 miles from Washington, D.C., the museum’s architectural centerpiece ascends 210 feet high at its pinnacle. It is a dramatic glass-and-steel structure inspired by the world-famous image of a group of Marines raising the American flag over Iwo Jima during World War II. Based on Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal’s world-famous image, the overall form of the museum immediately reminds visitors of the struggle, sacrifice and success of the Marines throughout history.
The museum reflects the Marines’ dedication and highlights the Corps’ rich history. For instance, the main entrance plaza stirs memories of approaching a beachhead from military watercraft, the interior skylight space feels like a ship’s interior and the exhibition galleries use interactive signage, audio-video, and lasers to simulate the Marine experience from boot camp to tour of duty. The exhibition designers’ attention to detail is obvious as they employed mammoth-scale photographs, famous quotations about Marine heroism, and life-size mannequins to make the visitor’s experience a strikingly true-to-life didactic and emotional one.
Some of the impressive objects on display include the first and second American flags raised on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, in February 1945, an F4U Corsair fighter aircraft like those flown by Marines in the Pacific during World War II, a UH-1E “Huey” helicopter used during the Vietnam War, the famed Mameluke sword of the type carried by Marine officers since the early 19th century, and a leatherneck stock worn around the necks of 18th-century Marines to protect from sword slashes of the throat. Of course, “leatherneck” remains the modern day nickname for Marines.
Another attractive aspect of the museum is its combat art gallery. Featuring works of original art by various combat artists, the expansive art gallery hosts artwork highlighting subjects including active Marines on duty and American military history. The works of American artists including Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952), James Montgomery Flagg (1977-1960), Staff Sgt. Tom Lovel (1909-1997) and Col. Donna Neary (born 1941) all demonstrate the attributes of valor and commitment. The story of combat artists and their subjects provide a stellar art exhibition within a museum already chock- full of military objects.
After visiting the National Museum of the Marine Corps, it’s my opinion that this museum will quickly become the standard by which other major contemporary military and history museums are measured. This American history museum is already an unmistakable “must-see” destination as it stands sentinel as an important learning center, breathtaking exhibition space, and humbling site to behold.
On the Web: www.usmcmuseum.org.
Costly cleaning mistakes
At my public appraisal events, many people ask about how to clean vintage and antique objects. I typically tell audience members that less is more. That’s right, when in doubt — don’t clean it. But if you just have to clean it, don’t be overzealous.
Of course, with so many objects made of so many materials, there is no one correct answer to the question. But let me share a couple real-life antiques cleaning mistakes I’ve gleaned along the way.
If you have a large collection of antiques, remember to count as you clean.
I met one woman who cleaned 12 18th-century silver spoons in her kitchen sink. As she polished each spoon, she placed it in the sink. Then she removed all of the spoons from the sink in a bunch and placed them on the countertop. Having completed her task, she began washing dishes.
Later that day, as she ran her garbage disposal, she heard a terrible sound. You know where I am going with this — she had ground up one of those precious spoons. Of course, she thought she had all 12 spoons placed safely on the countertop when, in fact, one spoon was quietly awaiting its demise in the deep, dark disposal.
Neglecting to count her spoons cost her a bundle in that cleaning mishap. It cost her not only that spoon but the collective value of the set.
Here’s another story.
We’ve all dropped ice cubes into a warm drink and listened as they crack in response to the temperature change. Well, submerging a piece of antique glass in a sink filled with warm water is not much different. The shock to the system has been known to crack delicate glass beyond repair.
Many people attempt to clean their glassware in this manner because they want their pieces to sparkle when I review and appraise them. Please — I’d rather tell you that your brilliant piece of cut glass is dirty than tell you that it’s damaged and dramatically decreased in value, with a big crack down its side.
As I often say, “It’s better to leave something precious a little dirty than to clean it and risk its ruin.”
As seen on Comcast CN8 TV, Lori Verderame is an antiques appraiser, syndicated columnist and museum curator with the Ph.D. in art history. Visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.
Ellie