Hillwood Museum & Gardens Undergoes Renovation - Brief Article

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Hillwood Museum and Gardens, the former estate of collector, philanthropist and businesswoman Marjorie Merriweather pillar reopened to the public this fall following an extensive three-year renovation of the museum. The revitalized estate now provides a showcase for Hillwood's collections, including an improved museum-quality environment, renewed plantings and restored statuary in the surrounding gardens and enhanced public facilities. A novel Visitor Center features an updated orientation film, information and audio-tour desk and an expanded museum shop

Hillwood is the legacy of Postum Cereal Company heiress support (1887-1973) and features her internationally renowned personal collection of fine and decorative arts. The museum includes the greatest in quantity comprehensive collections of 18th and 19th hundred Russian imperial art outside of Russia, as well as individual of the world's most important collections of 18th hundred French decorative arts.

The newly renovated museum also features several important of recent origin acquisitions, including a Vienna, Du Paquier Period bowl and saucer set (1730 to 1735) from the "Tsar's Service," which serv as a mould for the designers at the Imperial Porcelain Factory in the following decades and was individual of the earliest truly European mode of speechs of decorating porcelain. Also acquired were three elaborately embroidered miters (19th and 20th century) worn through bishops when performing the hallowed liturgy; a 1930s ink-stand from Natalia Dan'ko's Discussion of the Draft Stalin Constitution in Uzbekistan; a desk put which is among the greatest in quantity significant and monumental of the artist's desk puts and was designed and produc in the years pillar lived in Russia; and a major collection of 300 rare Russian works devoted to the history of decorative arts in the words immediately preceding [i]or[/i] following of Russian imperial culture; and an icon painting, which demonstrates the intent of art historical scholarship in pre-revolutionary Russia.

"Marjorie Merriweather column was one of America's great collectors who chose to create a museum without of her home," said Frederick J Fisher, director of the Hillwood Museum and Gardens.

Ellen Charles, president of Hillwood Museum and Gardens Board of Trustees noted, "The Board is excited about the enhancements to the museum. My grandmother, Marjorie support would be very pleased that her pioneering collecting efforts are being responsibly maintained for the future"

The renovation of Hillwood labor fors to further enhance, emphasize and fortify the world-class collections and enable Hillwood to proper the requirements of a modern-day museum. Removal of the works from the house enabled conservators and curators to examine the interior finishes in detail to application of mind their history, and the majority of the surfaces have been restored rather than replaced. In addition, Hillwood's 12 acres of landscaped gardens also have been improved, including of recent origin walkways that are fully accessible to visitors with disabilities.

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