Faberge Exhibit at the Walters

I spent Friday morning at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.  This was a trip sponsored by Vantage House where we live.

One of their special exhibits is Faberge and the Russian Crafts Tradition with two of the 50 known Faberge Easter eggs owned by the Walters.  That was my first stop before I went exploring some of their other exhibits.  

First an apology - low lighting and difficulty in focusing means that some of these photos are not quite in focus.

At the start of the exhibit is this opened egg.

The egg is maybe 5 inches tall at the most so the scene inside is miniscule.

Besides the amazing carving what was astounding was that it was on mammoth ivory.

This necklace has paintings of the 4 daughters of Nicholas II and lots of diamonds.

Nearby was their photo.

Gold, diamonds, precious stones, silver and enamel were common elements in many of these pieces.

I loved this casket (box) for its many patterns.

Then there were these 4 animals carvings.

In a room by itself was this second egg.

It wasn't opened because once it contained a necklace which has been lost to history.

Many of the items in the exhibit are owned by the Walters having been collected by Henry Walters.  Others have been donated to the Walters or are on loan for this exhibit.

Scotland: Stirling Castle & the Reenactors

Continuing to post on our Fall Scotland trip.

We were based north of Stirling and visited there several times.  

Stirling Castle is quite spectacular and can't be encompassed in one post.

Here's a teaser with photos of the re-enactors there.

The current castle dates from the late 14th to the 16th century, when it was the residence of the Stuart monarchs.

It sits on a might crag which was once the plug of an extinct volcano.

The Royal Palace underwent a renovation in 2011.  It looks brand new, just as it did for James V in the mid-16th century when he brought his French bride here.

Re-enactors in the Great Hall too.

And outside in the courtyard.

 More to come on Stirling Castle and the town itself.

Scotland: Autumn Colors

Our two weeks in Scotland from the end of September to early October gave us a sense of what autumn colors were like there.  The best place to see those were in the wooded retreat called The Hermitage outside Dunkeld and Birnam.

Come walk with us through these lovely woods.  Dan is in the lead up ahead.

 

The folly.

Look closely at the stump below.  Do you see what's been embedded there?

Did you enjoy the walk?