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Colonial Williamsburg’s 74th Annual Antiques Forum:

Virtue & Vice, February 25 - March 1
WILLIAMSBURG, VA – Colonial Williamsburg has launched registration No Annual Antiques Forum
for its 74th Annual Antiques Forum: Virtue & Vice. This year’s Forum will would be complete without an
have both in-person and virtual options available for registration. update on recent additions to
The themes of virtue and vice are manifest in descriptions and the Colonial Williamsburg col-
depictions of daily life and the accoutrements that accompany it. From lections by Vice President of
William Hogarth’s and Thomas Rowlandson’s exaggerated portrayals of Museums, Preservation and
these themes to the 18th century ideal of “Keep within Compass,” the Historic Resources and Carlisle
story of societal evolution may be told through these codependent H. Humelsine Chief Curator
elements and can be traced through 18th and early 19th century material Ron Hurst. Longtime Friends
culture, food, pastimes and manners. Join curators, conservators, of Colonial Williamsburg
collectors, scholars and decorative arts aficionados from across the United Collections members Barbara
States and England for an engaging look at ceramics, furniture, metals, and Bruce McRitchie invite us
paintings, prints and textiles as we contextualize the yin and yang of to join them on a journey
“virtue and vice” in early America. through their private collections.
We will delve into the virtue and vice of the Georgian Court in both In continued partnership
the private and public sector with an 18th century romp In Bed with the with the Carolyn and Michael
Georgians by returning guest speaker Mike Rendell, while also exploring McNamara Young Scholars
the Georgian Monarchy Between Enlightenment and Empire with Wolf Lectures sponsored by the
Burchard of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Decorative Arts Trust, Colonial Williamsburg will continue to host
Guest lecturers also include Lars Tharp, well-known for his emerging scholars: Kelly Fu, Alexandra Macdonald and Emily Whitted,
appearances on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, who combines his expertise as they join us for this year’s Forum with fresh perspectives on a variety
on ceramics and William Hogarth for a rousing look at Harlots, Rakes and of fascinating subjects.
Crashing China, and Leslie B. Grigsby, senior curator of ceramics and glass In-person registrants are invited to take advantage of optional
at Winterthur, as she reveals ceramics and glass that were made Just for pre-conference bus trips to the Northern Virginia Piedmont and Lower
Fun. Leah Lane, curator of collections for Preservation Virginia, explores Shenandoah Valley, Eyre Hall, or Gloucester, or take a behind-the-
the creativity revealed through the vice of smoking carved tobacco pipes, scenes walking tour of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, and
while Ken Cohen, of University of Delaware and Smithsonian Institute, post-conference workshops examining pieces and places not usually
scrutinizes Billiards and Early American Democracy. Scott Erbes, curator of available for the general public. All registrants—both virtual and
decorative arts and design at the Speed Museum, takes us on a journey of in-person, will have access to the main lectures via the streaming
Polished Prosperity, Tarnished Temptations: The Silver Worlds of Matthew platform through March 31, 2022.
Boulton and Asa Blanchard, and Tyson Distinguished Scholar of the
Crystal Bridges Museum Carrie Barratt analyzes Virtue and Vice and Solace The 24th Annual Working Wood in the 18th Century
in America Art. Independent Curator William Sargent lectures on This year we welcome furniture maker and artist Aspen Golann, who
Miscellaneous Virtues & Vices in Chinese Export Art, and Scott Stephenson, will demonstrate the construction of a 1770s settee with a strong
president and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution, dives Williamsburg history. Aspen’s exploration will also include ideas on how
into espionage and the darkest days of the Revolutionary War in his quest an antique object can inspire contemporary designs that both celebrate
to identify a newly-recognized carver of powder horns! and interrogate the past. The “plain and neat” elegance that characterizes
We take a look at the virtue—or vice?—of religion through objects the settee and much of Williamsburg’s fine furniture will also be on display
with Bly Straube, senior curator of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, as Colonial Williamsburg cabinetmakers John Peeler and Jeremy Tritchler
as she examines Catholic iconography from the early English settlement of delve into work from the 18th century shops established by Peter Scott
Jamestown, and David Barquist, from the Philadelphia Museum of Arts, and Anthony Hay. In highly ornamented contrast to this, master cabinet-
who considers Silver maker Bill Pavlak will demonstrate some of the carving found on a series
and Religion in the of ceremonial chairs made or used in Williamsburg with an eye toward how
Americas. While the these designs inform more common furniture forms then and now.
wine and whiskey No look at Williamsburg is complete without a careful consideration
industry are not of its architectural riches. Master carpenter Garland Wood and crew will
commonly associated demonstrate Tidewater timber framing techniques. Meanwhile, supervis-
with protestant reli- ing joiner Brian Weldy will join forces with Amy McAuley (preservation
gious groups, Director joiner/carpenter at Mount Vernon) for a detailed examination of circular
of the South Union windows. Moving further inside, Colonial Williamsburg joiners Peter
Shaker Village, Tommy Hudsonand Scott Krogh will create some of the moldings and trim work
Hines, will expound that adorn the city’s finer homes while conservator Chris Swan will share
upon that fascinating lessons learned through the conservation of architectural fragments.
and seemingly contradictory relationship. Cabinetmakers, carpenters, and joiners all practiced their crafts with
From Colonial Williamsburg, we explore vice through Gaming Tables a mind on business and greater civic involvement. To this end, joiner
of the 18th and 19th Centuries with curator of furniture Tara Chicirda, and Amanda Doggett will demonstrate the manufacture of a coffin – a
Macaroni prints with the Margaret Beck Pritchard Associate Curator of seemingly ever-present task in period shops, carpenter Matt Sanbury will
Maps & Prints, Katie McKinney, as well as the virtue of Schoolgirl explore the buying and selling of tools in 18th century Williamsburg, and
Samplers with senior curator of textiles, Kim Ivey. Updates on new Art harpsichord-maker Edward Wright will detail the life of cabinetmaker-
Museums exhibitions on musical instruments and the architecture of turned-soldier Edmund Dickinson who lost his life in the Revolution.
Colonial Williamsburg come from Amanda Keller, manager, historic To open the conference, Tara Chicirda, curator of furniture, will intro-
interiors and associate curator, household accessories, and Dani Jaworski, duce guests to 18th century Williamsburg’s furniture scene, its broader
manager, architectural collections, respectively. context, and the ever-changing nature of our understanding. Similarly,
During a special afternoon dedicated to Eyre Hall, join us as we Garland Wood in his banquet talk, will reflect on his 40 years of discovery
journey through four centuries of material culture with special presenta- as a Historic Trades carpenter. We are also pleased to offer guests a robust
tions by Sumpter Priddy, Mark Letzer, Laura Barry, Margaret Pritchard, line-up of unique pre-conference experiences.
and Carl Lounsbury. Visit ColonialWilliamsburg.org to learn more.

26 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles