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Introduction

Queen of the Insects

The Art of the Butterfly
December 11, 2009 - May 9, 2010

Transformative, ephemeral, and otherworldly, the iridescent and fragile beauty of the butterfly has enchanted designers and artisans around the world for hundreds of years. Always fashionable, the butterfly motif has adorned a wide variety of design objects, from porcelain and prints to jewelry and textiles. Fragility of the butterfly perfectly suited to the textile arts, akin in materiality and texture. Luminous silks, brocades and metallic threads, alight the surface of the textile, like a butterfly on the wind.

The works on display illustrate the universal impulse to capture the fleeting art of the butterfly. Juxtaposed with its often decorative usage in western design, the traditional symbolism of the butterfly in Asian art is explored and decoded as a design inspiration and as a material in itself. The human desire to preserve this resplendent and potent image of metamorphosis and rebirth has made it a universal design icon.

To capture the essence of this elusive creature has proved a challenge to many-- from artists to poets, musicians, and scientists. The careful observation and study of the natural world undertaken by all these professions alike, is a principal imparted on many a design student in their foundation studies, both for the RISD student today, and as was the case in 1917 as recorded in the text Jewelry Making and Design. An Illustrated text book for Teachers, Students of Design, and Craft Workers in Jewelry.*

"Just as soon as the student is able to look at any part or unit of the butterfly and see in it endless possibilities in design he will never be hampered for ideas, he will see more possibilities in a single motif than ever before, and his pencil will not work fast enough to record these ideas."

Special thanks to Christina B & Kate from the Athenaeum

Selected Objects

Chinese

Robe, 1800s

Chinese

Coat, 1800s

Chinese

Kingfisher Wedding Headdress (dianzi), mid-to late 1800s

Chinese

Sleeve band, 1800s

Japanese

Katagami (pattern paper), stencil, 1800s

Chinese

Sleeve band, 1800s

English

Wrapper, 1800s

French

Textile length, 1930-1940

Chinese

pair of sleeve bands, 1800s

Chinese export, China

Tureen Stand, late 1800s
No Image Available

Chinese, China

Butterfly Serving Dish, 1800s
No Image Available

Chinese, China

Bowl, 1800s

Chinese, China

Butterfly Tureen Cover, late 1800s

Chinese export, China

Tureen with Cover, late 1800s

Japanese

Textile, 1900s

Japanese

Katagami (pattern paper), stencil, 1800s

Chinese

Brooch, early 1900s

Japanese

Katagami (pattern paper), stencil, 1800s

Indonesian Javanese

Sarong, late 1800s

Chinese

Young Girl Holding a Butterfly Cutout Suspended from a Pole, 1800s

Japanese

Katagami (pattern paper), stencil, 1800s

Chinese

Sleeve band, 1800s

Chinese

pair of sleeve bands, 1800s

Japanese

Katagami (pattern paper), stencil, 1800s

Chinese

Skirt, ca. 1835

Japanese

Katagami (pattern paper), stencil, 1800s

Chinese

Skirt, early 1800s-mid 1800s

Liem Soen Tjaij (Tjay)

Sarong, 1905 - 1915

Chinese

Sleeve band, 1800s

Possibly French, China

Fan, ca. 1890

Japanese

Katagami (pattern paper), stencil, 1800s

Chinese

Robe, 1800s

Chinese

Robe, 1821-1851

Japanese Edo, Japan

Textile, 1800-1849

Hanae Mori, designer

Dress, ca. 1981

French

Textile length, 1930-1940

Indian Chinese, China, (for the Parsee market in India)

Blouse, early 1800s

Chinese

Robe, 1800s

Iida Shinshichi

Gown

Japanese

Katagami (pattern paper), stencil, 1800s

Japanese

Katagami (hand-cut paper stencil), 1800s

American

Hair ornament, ca. 1900

American

Hair ornament, 1920

Japanese

Katagami (pattern paper), stencil, 1800s

French

Textile, ca. 1800

Damien Hirst, designer

Limited Edition Butterfly Print Hoodie, 2008

Vlisco, textile manufacturer

Eclat de Nature, 2009

More objects +

Exhibition Checklist

Queen of the Insects : The Art of the Butterfly

December 11, 2009 - May 9, 2010
View Checklist PDF

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