HIDDEN GEMS - Small specialist house museums

Hidden Gems

Small specialist house museums, are often founded by philanthropic collectors who wish to let their collections live on - for enjoyment as well as education. We have chosen four, each with an impressive Chinese ceramics collection. Each one, has a passionate collector as driving force behind it. Two of them were even founded by very visionary women and one is now run by a woman very passionate about the family collection.

PAULINA BISDOM VAN VLIET

The Netherlands Museum Paulina Bisdom van Vliet

This house museum is remarkable, as its interior and collection has largely remained as the last owner - Paulina Bisdom van Vliet - left it. It is a unique reflection of the life of a well to do family in the latter part of the 19th century and, as such, an important Dutch historical monument.

In 1874 Marcellus Bisdom van Vliet - burgomaster of Haastrecht - had the current house built on the foundation of an earlier family property. On his death, the house passes to his daughter Paulina Bisdom van Vliet (1840-1923) - who lives there until 1923. She is an avid collector, filling the house with many art objects including an incredible 2500 pieces of Chinese porcelain. She had multiple Chinese dinner services, porcelain filled cabinets and dishes arranged in elaborate wall displays.

As a widow living on her own, Paulina seems to have been far ahead of her time, was very emancipated and socially engaged. She started a girls school, established a theatre and supported a variety of local sports clubs. In continuation of this, Paulina stipulated in her will that her house and it’s collection was to become a museum for the enjoyment of all. The second part of her will is yet to be opened – 100 years after her death on 1 June 2023.

The house and garden over the road make a fascinating visit. Opening times vary so it is worth checking before visiting. ◆ bisdomvanvliet.nl

KATHARINE AND HER FATHER SIR MICHAEL BUTLER

United Kingdom The Butler Collection

In 2009, Sir Michael Butler completed a 400 sq m, purpose-built museum in his garden in Dorset, to house his Chinese porcelain collection.

It had previously been distributed amongst various old apple sheds and workshops, but after his exhibition in 2005-6 which travelled to the Shanghai Museum and then on to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sir Michael felt the pieces needed a more distinguished setting. Exceptionally, the pieces are not behind glass allowing the very limited number of visitors to handle the porcelain and see it from all angles. Although 250 pieces were removed from the museum following Sir Michael’s death in 2013, another 300 were added from those he kept in his 2 homes plus over 50 that have subsequently been acquired by his daughter Katharine, meaning that over 650 pieces are now on display. A beautifully printed catalogue was published in 2021 (see Book Love p. 113).

Visits are by invitation only but may be arranged by contacting Katharine Butler on kbutler@butlercollection.com

JACOBA AND FRITS LUGT

France Custodia Foundation

The Custodia collection in Paris, is particularly famous for its stunning collection of Old Master Drawings. But what few people know, is that it also houses a splendid collection of about 120 pieces of Chinese ceramics, predominantly blue and white Chinese porcelain from the Wanli and Transitional periods.

Fondation Custodia was established in 1947, by the passionate Dutch collector and connoisseur Frits Lugt (1884-1970) and his wife Jacoba (To) Lugt-Klever (1888-1969). After spending the war years in the United States - inspired by similar initiatives from American collectors - they created a foundation for their expansive collection. They moved to France in 1953, settling in an 18th century mansion Hôtel Turgot, where the Foundation is now housed. In his interiors Lugt aimed to present a broad view of Dutch material culture in the 17th century; in which Chinese underglaze blue wares were regarded as essential element.

The Custodia collections reflect Lugt’s excellent eye and nose for quality - the porcelain collection is certainly no exception. From inventories it can be ascertained, that he already started acquiring Chinese works of art prior to 1931. Although his main focus lay in Old Master drawings, his other collection fields, should be seen in the context of the broader interest in other art forms, particularly those from Dutch 17th century.

A new catalogue on the Chinese porcelain collection, Chinese Porcelain in the Frits Lugt Collection by Prof. Dr. Christiaan Jörg, is due in 2023. ◆ fondationcustodia.fr

WILHELMINA VON HALLWYL

Sweden Hallwyl Museum

Completed in 1898, The Hallwyl residence in the centre of Stockholm, was built to house the business and family of Wilhelmina von Hallwyl – Kempe (1844-1921) and her Swiss-born husband Walther von Hallwyl. In the succeeding years, the rooms were specifically adapted to display Wilhelmina’s omnivorous collections. Besides European ceramics, silver, arms and Dutch Old Masters, she also enjoyed collecting Oriental ceramics, resulting in an impressive collection of 900 individual pieces. There is also an interesting group of 362 ancient, mainly Chinese, Bronzes.

Wilhelmina was an educated woman, with a great interest in the arts. Starting modestly, she began collecting in earnest when she inherited a large fortune as her father’s sole heir. She became a knowledgeable and purposeful collector, even though she felt she was not always taken seriously as a woman. Not deterred, she travelled extensively, studied widely and consulted with art dealers, auction houses and museum curators - amongst them Chinese art expert R.L. Hobson. She was also one of the first and very active member of the Swedish Oriental Ceramic Society.

She ensured the collection was extremely well documented and catalogued – employing a great number of people to help with the process. Realising this gargantuan task would probably not be completed in her lifetime, a museum association was formed. All 78 volumes of the limited edition catalogue were not published until 1955. The house and its contents were left to the state on her death in 1930 and as stipulated in her will, the first director was a woman.

An excellent catalogue of the collection by Rose Kerr Asian Ceramics in the Hallwyl Collection was published in 2015. A catalogue of the bronze collection can be found online ◆ archive.org/details/

treasuresfromthebronzeage

◆ hallwylskamuseet.se