The Spencer Cabinet
Exhibition
Exhibition Overview
The Spencer Cabinet
mobile app exhibition
“Cabinets of curiosities”—also known as “wonder rooms” or “cabinets of wonder”—first gained popularity in 16th-century Europe. Rather than adhering to categories that museums often use to organize collections, these eclectic groupings brought together specimens from nature, archaeological relics, and works of art. These varied collections reflected not only the marvels of their time, but also prompted inquisitiveness about the world. The Spencer’s cabinet draws from our wide-ranging collections to inspire wonder and evoke curiosity.
Works of art
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
Roman Bronze Works (founded 1899)
early 1900s
early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
1700s–1800s
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
1920–1922
date unknown
Ercole Ferrata (1610–1686)
circa 1650
circa 300 BCE, Ptolemaic Kingdom, 332 BCE–30 CE
late 1890s–early 1900s
Durand Art Glass (active 1924–1931)
1924–1931
1700s
1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Irene Bishop (1880–1925); Rookwood Pottery (active 1880–1967)
1907
Marie-Alexandre-Lucien Coudray (1865–1932)
1899
1700s–1800s
1950
late 1400s–mid 1500s
circa 1700s
Robert Lazzarini (born 1965); Franz Collection, Inc. (founded 2002); Image Imports
2003
Edo period (1600–1868)
Edo period (1600–1868)
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
1953
unrecorded Dogon artist
late 1800s–1975
1930s–1963
1950–1992
Susannah Biondo-Gemmell
2006
November 1, 1895, Meiji period (1868–1912)
600–700s, early Tang dynasty (618 CE–907 CE)
late 1600s–early 1700s, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
Carol Prusa (born 1956)
2011
200–300s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE
300–400s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
early 1800s
early 600s CE, Tang dynasty (618 CE–907 CE)
Masuda Myōchin Munemasa (active early Meiji period (1868–1912))
mid 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
late 1900s
early 1200s
Frank Fleming (1940–2018)
1982
1994
early 1900
Buccellati (founded 1919)
circa 1950s
Buccellati (founded 1919)
circa 1950s
Buccellati (founded 1919)
circa 1950s
Gene Caples (1935–2015)
circa 1930
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
Tetsugendō Naofusa (active 1700s)
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Kinai School
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Hirata School
1600, Edo period (1600–1868)
Tsu Jinpo (1720–1761)
Edo period (1600–1868)
Ishiguro Masakatsu (active 1800s)
1850s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Umetada (Okada) Zenzaemon Nobumasa (1642–1720)
late 1600s, Edo period (1600–1868)
circa 1850s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Ōtsuki Mitsuhiro (1795–1841)
Edo period (1600–1868)
Gōto School
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Mitsunaka
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Yan Yutian (active 1895–1918)
1895, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
August 29, 1910, Meiji period (1868–1912)
1906, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Elie Nadelman (1882–1946)
mid 1900s
Victor Durand Jr. (1870–1931); Vineland Flint Glass Works (active 1897–1931)
circa 1926–1928
1850–1875, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
500s, Sasanian dynasty (224–651)
Bi Rongjiu (active late 1800s)
1890–1920, Qing dynasty (1644–1911) to Republic of China (1911–1949)
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
2002