Ivory from the Thompson Collection. Image: ft.com
A collection of Ivories from the Thompson Collection to be previewed at London’s Somerset House before coming to the Art Gallery of Ontario later this year.
“Ivories were the first works of art Thomson ever acquired back in the 1950s; he was attracted by their miniaturist craftsmanship and their intimate tactile quality. He bought Egyptian, Byzantine and Romanesque ivory carvings as well as Japanese Netsuke, Baroque ivories and ingenious machine-carved Cheverton portrait busts. Within this group, however, the holding of western medieval ivories ranks among the most important in the world – in or out of a museum…”
Ivory from the Thompson Collection. Image: ft.com
Read the full preview in the Financial Times right HERE
Andrea Carson writes on contemporary art, architecture and design...
2 comments ↓
I have always been so fascinated by Ken Thomson’s collection of ivories. I still vividly remember the first time I saw the Treasures of a Collector installation at the AGO many years ago and how being gobsmacked at the intricacy and detail of the carving. I revisited those ivories many times while I worked at the Gallery and grew especially fond of the memento mori-type pieces.
One recollection: Mr. Thomson loved to observe AGO visitors enjoying his collection of ivories and I remember one day noticing him standing at the entrance of the installation with a huge grin on his face, watching people ooh and aah at them. He was truly overjoyed to share his collection with the public.
Thanks Craig – that’s great to know. Hopefully the rebuild of the AGO will bring more visitors to see the collection…AC
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