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Article: Catching Silver's Last Gleaming; Renwick Exhibit Reflects on a Dying Industry
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 17, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The Renwick Gallery's new exhibition, "Modernism in American
Silver: 20th-Century Design," glows with failed promise.
The objects -- more than 200 of them -- are beauties of
industrial design. Their striking forms and sleek lines take their
cues from the 20th century's major artistic forces: deco, cubism,
streamlining, the Space Age, modernism, postmodernism, organic
minimalism.
But as consumer products, the compotes and carafes document the
downward spiral of a proud industry. In the 19th century, the
American silver business, led by companies such as Tiffany, Gorham
and Reed & Barton, had become the largest in the world. By the late
20th century, many purveyors of polished dreams ...