Museum gotta see 'um

California asparagus season is upon us. Widely available now, asparagus was considered a great delicacy in the 18th century when this porcelain tureen was made by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory. The tureen, part of The Bowles Collection of 18th-Century English and French Porcelain at San Francisco’s Legion of Honor, was intended for use at the table during the dessert course. The delicate enamel colors on the porcelain enhanced the reality of the piece, especially as it would have been seen in the candlelight of a dinner party.        

The Bowles Porcelain Gallery, originally installed in 1995, underwent extensive improvements in 2009 thanks to the generous support of Constance Bowles Peabody, a longtime supporter of the Fine Arts Museums and a major donor of porcelain over the years. A more sympathetic and beautiful environment now shows off the Museums’ porcelain treasures. The interiors of the cases were refitted so that the collections are shown in groups that can be more readily understood, the background color has been changed to better show off the porcelain, and more extensive labeling has been added throughout to enrich the visitor experience.