The Wolfsonian holds outstanding collections of Dutch Nieuwe Kunst and Italian Stile Floreale. These Italian and Dutch manifestations of the movement commonly known as Art Nouveau date to the period 1890–1910, and refer to objects inspired by forms found in nature, particularly plants. Notably, the collection includes whole period rooms, such as a double parlor with complete furnishings by Agostino Lauro, and an interior by Theodoor Nieuwenhuis. The collection also includes one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Dutch Nieuwe Kunst bookbindings.
The
Wolfsonian―FIU's collection of
Dutch artifacts includes extensive holdings in glass, textiles,
furniture, and design drawings dating from circa 1880 to 1940, as well
as an unrivaled collection of "Nieuwe Kunst" (Art Nouveau or "new art")
bookbindings, and decorative and ornamental ephemera produced in the
Netherlands between the 1890's and 1920's. The Dutch holdings focus on
themes and subjects such as city life, industrial progress, and a
variety of social issues, including the importance of socialism in the
country's political life. Evidence of the motifs and techniques (such as
batik) introduced by the former Dutch East Indies colonies are
demonstrated particularly in the library's holdings, known as the Veeze
Collection, which includes several thousand rare book covers, calendars,
proofs, advertisements, and original sketches. The Wolfsonian's
Modern
Dutch Collection is available online in high resolution via PALMM
(Publications of Archive, Library, and Museum Materials).
Back to Collections Main
