The Spencer Cabinet

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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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
early 1900s
early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
1700s–1800s
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Paul Teeter
1920–1922
Ercole Ferrata
circa 1650
circa 300 BCE, Ptolemaic Kingdom, 332 BCE–30 CE
Johann Joachim Kändler, Meissen Porcelain Factory
late 1890s–early 1900s
Durand Art Glass
1924–1931
Robert Carston Arneson
1975
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Harry Andrew Jackson
1979
Richard M. Hollander
1978
Irene Bishop, Rookwood Pottery
1907
Marie-Alexandre-Lucien Coudray
1899
Wilhelm Wagenfeld, Württemberg Metal Factory
1950
late 1400s–mid 1500s
Pablo Picasso
1956
Robert Lazzarini, Franz Collection, Inc., Image Imports
2003
Edo period (1600–1868)
Edo period (1600–1868)
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Pablo Picasso
1953
unrecorded Dogon artist
late 1800s–1975
Hezekiel Ntuli
1930s–1963
jar
Lucy M. Lewis
1950–1992
Susannah Biondo-Gemmell
2006
600–700s, early Tang dynasty (618 CE–907 CE)
late 1600s–early 1700s, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
Carol Prusa
2011
200–300s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE
jar
300–400s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE
unrecorded Asante artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
early 600s CE, Tang dynasty (618 CE–907 CE)
David James Gilhooly
1986
Masuda Myōchin Munemasa
mid 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
late 1900s
early 1200s
Frank Fleming
1982
Linda Lighton
1994
Murakami Takashi, Kaikai Kiki Gallery
2006
Louis Comfort Tiffany
early 1900
Buccellati
circa 1950s
Buccellati
circa 1950s
Buccellati
circa 1950s
Gene Caples
circa 1930
Diego Giacometti
1977
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
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Kinai School
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Hirata School
1600, Edo period (1600–1868)
Tsu Jinpo
Edo period (1600–1868)
Ishiguro Masakatsu
1850s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Umetada (Okada) Zenzaemon Nobumasa
late 1600s, Edo period (1600–1868)
circa 1850s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Ōtsuki Mitsuhiro
Edo period (1600–1868)
Gōto School
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Yan Yutian
1895, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Elie Nadelman
mid 1900s
Victor Durand Jr., Vineland Flint Glass Works
circa 1926–1928
1850–1875, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
500s, Sasanian dynasty (224–651)
Bi Rongjiu
1890–1920, Qing dynasty (1644–1911) to Republic of China (1911–1949)
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Bernardaud, Jeff Koons
2002