Curator's Corner: From our Vaults to your Home
THE CURATOR'S CORNER: VOL 5
Introducing The Museum Collection: Inspired by the permanent collection of the Museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The beautiful, art-like nature of tennis has long served as an inspiration for a range of tennis-inspired works of art, many of which are currently displayed in the museum galleries. We looked to these works of art for inspiration when designing the newest line of gift and home decor items for The Museum Store. With a permanent collection of over 20,000 artifacts and unique architectural elements within The Newport Casino, we discovered an abundance of images, items, and design aspects, perfect to bring the collection from our vaults to your home.
EXplore the collection
Stainless Steel Travel Thermos
Inspired by vintage tennis ball containers
Within the museum's permanent collection resides over 600 vintage tennis ball containers. A visit to the museum galleries reveals a striking display, a wall featuring more than 160 of these containers, preserved and displayed with care. Now you can bring a piece of tennis history home with this travel thermos, whose design replicates a select 5 containers from the collection.
Ceramic Mugs and Stone Coasters,
Inspired by the design of the original Newport Casino tiles
These Moorish-style tin-glazed earthenware tiles were made by Salvador Diez of Manyses (Valencia, Spain) and formerly graced the walls of the Stanford White-designed Newport Casino. The vibrant tiles rose to a height of 6.5 feet and were capped with a solid red tile border. Though the tiles were removed in a renovation in the 1990s, all tiles have been saved and are within the archives of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Shell Motif Jewerly
Inspired by shell design found in Newport Casino woodwork
These gold shell pendants on pearl stands replicate the shell design found on the carved woodwork above the entrance way onto the grounds. The shell symbolizes fertility and beauty, it is seen in many of Newport’s oceanfront interiors. Earrings, Bracelet and Necklace (not picutred) are available.
Strawberry Thief Bangle
Inspired by the Newport Casino Library
This bracelet is inspired by the Strawberry Thief collection by British textile designer, writer, and artist William Morris (1834-1896). Strawberry Thief is one of William Morris's most popular repeating designs for textiles; it takes as its subject the thrushes that Morris found stealing fruit in his kitchen garden of his countryside home. During the renovation and restoration of the Peggy Woolard Library in the mid-1990s a pattern, similar to this design, was selected for the carpet motif.
Shop The Museum Collection
Other products in the works:
- Magnets featuring one of our unique and vibrant stained glass panels;
- Pewter bracelets featuring inspirational quotes by Hall of Famers;
- Household accessories and decorative items, such as candle and votive holders and floor throws, that mimic the unique repeating patterns found in the Newport Casino’s fireplaces, grates, and decorative wood work.
Stay tuned for additional products! Contact The Museum Store with questions, 401-846-1203
