Photo: GV
What is this? The first person to get the right answer gets a free membership to the Walters!
And even if you live far away, there are lots of reciprocal benefits involved – which means with a WAM membership you get in free to a whole bunch of other museums.
And, as you know, the Walters if FREE all the time.
So, what is it?
Filed in: Art, The Walters, Uncategorized.
Gary Vikan, director of the Walters Art Museum since 1994, has been with the Baltimore institution for more than 20 years. A native of Minnesota, Gary received his B.A. from Carleton College in 1967 and his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1976 before working as Senior Associate for Byzantine Art Studies at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C.
An internationally known medieval art scholar, Gary has curated many significant exhibitions at the Walters, and has published and lectured on the early Christian pilgrimage, medicine and magic, icons, the Shroud of Turin, neuroscience and aesthetics, and Elvis Presley. His most recent book, Early Byzantine Pilgrimage Art, will be published in 2010 by Dumbarton Oaks; he is currently working on a book-length study titled Pilgrimage to Graceland.
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Looks like a Pi Beta Phi nice sorority pin!
watch for the blind…
Good job Luiza!
Cupid’s arrow broo– I see Alayna has already posted that. Can’t be more specific. I don’t remember seeing it in the museum.
A momento commemorating the time of a birth?
AND THE WINNER IS…..
LUIZA!
It’s a (fancy) watch for a blind person; Nepoleon’s mom!
Order of the Arrow lapel pin.
cufflink
A cover to a compass.
It’s a cover to a compass.
A pendant pin. A badge of either service or rank.
sorry for the triple post, I thought it didn’t work.
The “guilloche” enameling technique should noted — machine-produced incisions are filled in with liquid glass to create a beautiful layered effect.
The blind person could touch the pearls of varying sizes and the diamonds to check the time.
I saw this the other week and just loved the concept. It is in the room with the rings, snuff boxes, the bonbonnieres, right before the Faberge and Lalique jewelry.
A lovely watch pendant with pearls.
A time-piece for the blind.
A time piece for the blind!!
It’s a time-piece for the blind!
Postscript: Or the hour of someone’s death? (Thinking about the Victorian interest and custom of commerating passings)
Not a timepiece per se; but a memento of a specific time (the arrow is distinctly pointing)? Perhaps commerating someone’s birth/wedding time? Appears to be presented as a piece of jewelry that can be worn.
Lots of really clever thinking out there,
…but no one has got it yet!!!!
GV
Is it a watch fob or watch cover?
The arrow makes me think it is a sorority pin for Pi Beta Phi sorority. One of the founders, I believe, was Grace Coolidge, who was involved with the Parker Pen company, and the arrow is a symbol for both. If a sister did something wondrous, she might be awarded a Grace Cool prize, named for the founder. I know this as my future wife was a member of Pi Phi sorority while we were dating.
Some sort of hair barrette?
How about a scepter?
Looks definitely Faberge. Perhaps the top part of one of their reknowned eggs. Perhaps seen from the underside as opposed to top view?
Nope!
Some of you are getting warm, but no winner yet!
It looks like a hat pin!
An archer’s medal.
Looks like a fancy pocket watch to me.
Compass
Cupid’s arrow brooch ??
An Earring!