Image: Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
An exhibition drawing objects from the Walters’ Asian, European, American, and African art collections will run from November 7, 2026, through January 24, 2027. It will be presented on the first floor at Centre Street.
The exhibition features historical objects made from four natural materials taken from the animal world: kingfisher feathers, tortoise shell, rhinoceros horn, and elephant ivory. For centuries, these materials were desired by powerful and wealthy people because of their scarcity and the difficult nature of obtaining and working with them.
The exhibition examines the cost to wildlife associated with these materials, as well as the growing environmental consciousness that led to all four being banned from use in artworks starting in the 20th century.
It showcases remarkable examples of each material and looks at how art and luxury goods made from wild animal materials testify to the enduring human desire to capture the beauty and power of wild animals. The exhibition also explores contemporary responses to society’s evolving relationship with nature, providing an opportunity for reflection and reconciliation. It was curated by Dany Chan, associate curator of Asian art.
The programme includes ‘Luxury & Loss Opening Day Artist Talks’ on November 7 from 3 to 4 p.m., followed by ‘Collection Connections: Past Traditions in Luxury & Loss’ on November 18. Among the objects is a 19th-century Chinese hair ornament acquired by Henry Walters in 1907.
