The Spencer Cabinet
Exhibition
Exhibition Overview
The Spencer Cabinet
November 3, 2022–December 31, 2027
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
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
balance for gold dust,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
spoon for gold dust,
late 1800s–early 1900s
Roman Bronze Works (founded 1899)
primate figure,
early 1900s
vase,
early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
vase,
1700s–1800s
苦瓜 kugua (bitter melon), snuff bottle with stopper,
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Paul Teeter (active 1920s)
scarab paperweight,
1920–1922
Holy Family with Angels,
date unknown
Ercole Ferrata (1610–1686)
Virgin and Child,
circa 1650
Isis and the infant Horus,
circa 300 BCE, Ptolemaic Kingdom, 332 BCE–30 CE
Johann Joachim Kändler (1706–1775); Meissen Porcelain Factory (active 1710–present)
Der Tritonenfang (Triton Fishing),
late 1890s–early 1900s
Durand Art Glass (active 1924–1931)
vase,
1924–1931
Robert Carston Arneson (1930–1992)
untitled,
1975
snuff bottle with stopper,
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
佛手 foshou (citron), snuff bottle with stopper,
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Harry Andrew Jackson (1924–2011)
Two Champs II,
1979
Richard M. Hollander (1911–1991)
Western Landscape,
1978
Irene Bishop (1880–1925); Rookwood Pottery (active 1880–1967)
vase,
1907
Marie-Alexandre-Lucien Coudray (1865–1932)
Orphee,
1899
votive tablet (tsa-tsa),
1700s–1800s
Wilhelm Wagenfeld (1900–1990); Württemberg Metal Factory (founded 1853)
vase,
1950
Saint Sebastian,
late 1400s–mid 1500s
statue of a young child,
circa 1700s
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Bouquet à la pomme,
1956
Robert Lazzarini (born 1965); Franz Collection, Inc. (founded 2002); Image Imports
teacup, saucer and spoon,
2003
standing Bodhisattva,
Edo period (1600–1868)
standing Bodhisattva,
Edo period (1600–1868)
table screen,
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Hibou (Owl),
1953
unrecorded Dogon artist
equestrian figure,
late 1800s–1975
Hezekiel Ntuli (1912–1973)
bust of a woman,
1930s–1963
Lucy M. Lewis (circa 1898–1992, active circa 1920–1990)
jar,
1950–1992
Susannah Biondo-Gemmell
Drawing for Prometheus I,
2006
瑞宝章 Zuihōshō (First Class Medal of the Order of the Sacred Treasure),
November 1, 1895, Meiji period (1868–1912)
bianhu (pilgrimage flask) with dancing monkey,
600–700s, early Tang dynasty (618 CE–907 CE)
迦諾迦伐蹉 Seated Nahan Ganakgabeolcha (Sanskrit: Kanakavatsa),
late 1600s–early 1700s, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
Carol Prusa (born 1956)
Navel,
2011
container,
200–300s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE
jar,
300–400s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
Santo figure of St. Francis of Assisi,
early 1800s
Figure of a Demon,
early 600s CE, Tang dynasty (618 CE–907 CE)
David James Gilhooly (1943–2013)
Thinking Frog,
1986
Masuda Myōchin Munemasa (active early Meiji period (1868–1912))
自在置物 jizai okimono (articulated crab),
mid 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
vajra (scepter),
late 1900s
conical bowl,
early 1200s
Frank Fleming (1940–2018)
Mean Smiling Frog,
1982
Linda Lighton (born 1948)
Banana,
1994
Murakami Takashi (born 1962); Kaikai Kiki Gallery (founded 2008)
smiling flower,
2006
Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933)
compote,
early 1900
Buccellati (founded 1919)
murex ramosus seashell,
circa 1950s
Buccellati (founded 1919)
murex ramosus seashell,
circa 1950s
Buccellati (founded 1919)
bursa bobo seashell,
circa 1950s
Gene Caples (1935–2015)
Searching Man,
circa 1930
Diego Giacometti (1902–1985)
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Asante artist
weight,
late 1800s–early 1900s
Tetsugendō Naofusa (active 1700s)
鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with geese passing the moon,
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Kinai School
鍔 tsuba (sword guard),
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Hirata School
鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with wisteria,
1600, Edo period (1600–1868)
Tsu Jinpo (1720–1761)
鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with lobster,
Edo period (1600–1868)
Ishiguro Masakatsu (active 1800s)
鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with dragon flies,
1850s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Umetada (Okada) Zenzaemon Nobumasa (1642–1720)
鍔 tsuba (sword handle) with 鐙 abumi (stirrups),
late 1600s, Edo period (1600–1868)
birds and plum, snuff bottle with stopper,
circa 1850s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Ōtsuki Mitsuhiro (1795–1841)
小柄 kozuka (knife handle) with crane,
Edo period (1600–1868)
Gōto School
小柄 kozuka (knife handle) with deer,
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Mitsunaka
縁 fuchi (hilt collar) and 頭 kashira (butt cap) with spring flowers and insects,
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Yan Yutian (active 1895–1918)
Second Spring, snuff bottle with stopper,
1895, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
snuff bottle with stopper,
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Elie Nadelman (1882–1946)
standing figure,
mid 1900s
Victor Durand Jr. (1870–1931); Vineland Flint Glass Works (active 1897–1931)
vase,
circa 1926–1928
horses, snuff bottle with stopper,
1850–1875, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
head of Buddha,
500s, Sasanian dynasty (224–651)
Bi Rongjiu (active late 1800s)
snuff bottle with stopper,
1890–1920, Qing dynasty (1644–1911) to Republic of China (1911–1949)
plate with Mt. Fuji and pine trees,
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Bernardaud (founded 1863); Jeff Koons (born 1955)
Balloon Dog (blue),
2002