Kenosha
Public Museum
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Kenosha Public Museum's Pottery on Loan to the Milwaukee Art Museum
October 2, 2008
The Kenosha Public Museum's Wisconsin Pottery Collection is well-known as one of the largest collections of known/documented early 19th century Wisconsin pottery in the region. This collection was amassed by former KPM director Kenneth Dearlolf in the 1970s. And the significance of the collection is not lost on the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM).
On September 11, 2008, the MAM began displaying three pieces of KPM pottery: Konrad Langenberg Stoneware Pitcher (1856-1893); George Hammett Redware Jug (1853-1879); and Unique C. Hermann and Co. Stoneware Jug (1856-1886) marked with the inscription "A-M NOT A TEMBRENTZ MAN MEY FELO" - translation, "I am not a temperance man, my fellow." The Hermann jug is featured on the MAM's brochures for the exhibit, "The Finest in the Western Country: Wisconsin Decorative Arts 1820-1900." Museums director Paula Touhey acknowledges the prestige of this exhibit, "It affirms the vision and work of Mr. Dearlolf decades ago in amassing the KPM's Pottery Collection. It also speaks to the importance and value of the outstanding decorative arts collections within the state and the opportunities collaboration brings. We are proud to partner with the Milwaukee Art Museum."
The MAM exhibition brings together for the first time over 40 important objects from collections throughout Wisconsin. With a diverse array of furniture, ceramics, textiles, and metalwork, the exhibit reflects the region early in its history. The area was viewed as the "Western Country" by the more established East and was undergoing a dramatic transition from frontier territory to settled state. These works were brought to light through the Wisconsin Decorative Art Database project, a collaboration of the Wisconsin HIstorical Society and the Chipstone Foundation to create a publicly accessible archive.
The exhibit is shown in the Decorative Arts Gallery from September 11, 2008 through January 4, 2009.