Richmond, Part 1: Tiffany and Hollywod

I decided to drive down to Richmond for a day trip mostly because I wanted to see the Tiffany exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. I wasn't necessarily planning to see anything else, although I was hoping to have time. But on my way out the door, some other sites were mentioned to me, such as the Hollywood cemetery.

Tiffany
When I arrived at Richmond I went to the museum first. Parking is $3 and can be paid for at the visitors desk or at the garage. The Tiffany exhibit admittance is $15 for an adult. It will not surprise you that photos were not permitted. Tiffany was in business from 1848-1933 and Tiffany glass began in 1880. Louis Comfort Tiffany was born in 1848, the son of a prominent New York jeweler. In 1875, he founded Louis Comfort Tiffany and Associated Artists, which eventually employed over one hundred skilled craftsmen. His interior designs were very popular, and after restyling rooms in the White House in 1883, he was the most fashionable decorator in New York City.
All of Tiffany's later work grew out of his early success in interior design. From the start he used glass extensively, with tiles, lamps, murals, and windows as an intrinsic part of his style.
Some of the work on display was at the exhibit was a pink, white, and blue cameo blown vase, and beautiful jewelry made of materials like enamel on metal, opal, and moonstone. There were also his well-known vases in the shape of flowers. Now I know that you are wondering about two things: windows and lamps! The museum had on display several stained glass windows -- including a beautiful Mermaid Window which used hues of blue and green that depicted a woman riding a seahorse, with shells in the glass framing the main image. Tiffany was commissioned to create this window for a sugar magnate in Hawaii. Another beautiful water-themed window was "Starfish & Anemone", in which Tiffany used undulating glass to give an impression of the waters' movement, and more beautiful green and blue hues. Of course you can see the starfish and anemones among the water.

Tiffany began creating lamps as luxury articles, which is easy to understand when you see them -- they are impressively extravagant. My favorite lamps were the dragonfly and the peacock. The audio tour will tell you that the wisteria was very popular in Tiffany's day, and the cobweb was known for its unique look. The audio tour also informs you that Tiffany created the lamps with the full realization and intended purpose of using electricity and light bulbs to illuminate the stained glass in the same way the sun lights his windows.
In the Art Deco exhibit outside the exhibit room on a different floor in the museum, you will find a few more great Tiffany pieces. There is a punch bowl made from hand blown glass, gilded silver mount and all gold coloring which the museum staff think was used "only once" for the man who commissioned it. There is also the Magnolia and Apple Blossom window and many more lamps.
Tiffany's glass work was inspired by nature, which is no surprise to his fans but is something that resonates with many of us. The exhibit at the museum includes a video on making glass, information on glass and other materials Tiffany used, and historical information about his company. I have not mentioned some of his other works, so if you want to know about it all, go visit! (www.vmfa.state.va.us)

Hollywood Cemetery

After this museum, I decided to go next door to the Hollywood cemetery which is known to have burial grounds of some US presidents and Virginia governors. First of all, you have three choices for viewing some of the famous graves: 1) walking, 2) driving yourself, and 3) taking an infrequent tour. Whether your drive yourself or get there for a tour, I strongly advise against walking. It is bigger than it looks, and very hilly. If you don't make it for a tour, then you can find a grave map in the parking lot when you enter. It is a huge cemetery, so I only went to see the grave of President James Munroe, President John Tyler, the First Confederate Burial, and the William E. Starke burial ground dog. I noticed that many families are buried together, including sisters!

I did not see any other part of Richmond, but to me this was quite enough for one day. I was hot, tired, and told by locals that the other sites I mentioned were "all the way across town". I was later told that their "all the way across town" isn't like a Washington DC "all the way across town" -- but that's okay. I can go back down, perhaps in the Fall. I would like to extend a special thanks to Grace & Ted who welcomed my unexpected arrival at their house in Mineral, when I really needed a good long break from the driving and exploring!