New Summer Destinations for Seeing Original Stickley
Darcy Smith
Share
This summer, Stickley furniture is the subject of a special loan exhibition at the View Arts Center in Old Forge, New York! Now through July 26, Crafting the American Ideal: Gustav Stickley and L. & J.G. Stickley, presented in a collaboration with The Stickley Museum and L.& J.G. Stickley, Inc., will showcase around 30 original pieces created between 1900 and 1916 while illuminating the design philosophy and extraordinary craftsmanship that gave birth to our brand. If you live near or are vacationing in the Adirondack region, this is a wonderful opportunity to explore original Stickley up close. (And stop by if you can on Saturday, June 13, at 10:00 a.m. for an informative talk by Amanda Clifford, Director of The Stickley Museum!)
PLAN YOUR VISIT
View Arts Center, 3273 State Route 28, Old Forge, NY 13420
Monday – Saturday 11am to 6pm
www.viewarts.org
Even more Stickley viewing
In our previous travel posts in 2022 and 2023 we featured several of our favorite places to see Stickley up close, including the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms in Morris Plains, New Jersey and The Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement in St. Petersburg, Florida, both homes to extensive Stickley collections. This month, the View Arts Center exhibition has inspired us to share a few additional destinations. Keep the following three gems in mind as you plan your summer travel!
Brooklyn Museum – Brooklyn, New York
In addition to its galleries of American and international art, period rooms, and the celebrated installation of Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party, the Brooklyn Museum boasts an impressive Decorative Arts and Design collection that includes masterworks of the Arts and Crafts period. A recent visit found this astonishing Gustav Stickley desk with a beautiful inlay of walnut, copper, and pewter—produced circa 1904 and featured prominently in the Decorative Arts and Design gallery.
In an adjacent gallery, you’ll even spot a vintage magazine ad for Gustav’s Craftsman furniture from 1903!
Also of interest at the Brooklyn Museum
William Morris, "Bird" hanging Tiffany Studios "Sunset in Autumn Woods" window
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052
Wednesday – Sunday 11am to 6pm
www.brooklynmuseum.org
de Young Museum – San Francisco, California
The de Young, a jewel of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, is a must-see stop in the Bay area, housed in a remarkable contemporary building by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron that’s nestled on a lush hilltop in Golden Gate Park. Its permanent American collection includes this original L. & J.G. Stickley Sideboard crafted circa 1910.
Also of interest at the de Young
Stickley Brothers Co. of Grand Rapids armchair ca. 1901 Frank Lloyd Wright Tree of Life window, 1904
PLAN YOUR VISIT
de Young, Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118
Tuesday – Sunday 9:30am to 5:15pm
https://www.famsf.org/visit/de-young
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art – Winter Park, Florida
A hidden gem near Orlando, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is known for its unparalleled collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. But its Decorative Art collection makes it an exciting find for Arts and Crafts devotees. Among its Stickley holdings are an oak-and-leather Rocking Chair and oak Table (both ca. 1905), the No. 913 Chest of Drawers dating from 1904 – 1906 (a design reissued by Stickley in 1991!), and a China Cupboard (ca. 1905). All were produced by Gustav Stickley’s Craftsman Workshops in Eastwood, New York.
Also of interest at the Morse Museum
The Morse’s large and varied collection of decorative Arts and Crafts items includes Grueby and Rookwood pottery, Tiffany lamps, Robert Jarvie candlesticks, and much more.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Morse Museum, 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789
Tuesday – Thursday and Saturday 9:30am to 4pm, Friday 9:30am to 8pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm
www.morsemuseum.org
As you plan your excursions, keep in mind that other great museums, including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, have Stickley holdings that may not be currently on view. It’s a good idea to check with any institution in advance to avoid disappointment!
Additional sources:
Amanda Clifford, Director, The Stickley Museum
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/
https://www.famsf.org/visit/de-young
Images courtesy of View Arts Center, Darcy Smith, de Young Museum, Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, sideofculture.com.
