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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, May 1973-March 1978

ARCH.2003.39, Rendition: 806453

Qwen, qwen.qwen3-vl-235b-a22b

This image shows a vintage printed page, likely from a newsletter or magazine titled Harvard Today, affixed to a light-brown, three-hole-punched archival folder. The page is dated June 1973, handwritten in blue ink at the bottom.

The page features a black-and-white article about an exhibition of Wedgwood pottery at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. Here’s a detailed breakdown:


Header Information

At the top left of the page, a small label reads:

HARVARD TODAY
1850 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, Mass. 02138
Second-class postage paid at Boston, Mass. 02109.
Printed in the U.S.A.


Main Article Content

The article, titled in part, "OLD WEDGEWOOD, the 150-piece Grenville Lindall Winthrop collection, is on view at the Fogg Art Museum through June 31..."

It describes the exhibition of Wedgwood china, including:

  • A Portland vase (seen in the top photo) — noted as a first edition copy and Josiah Wedgwood’s personal choice as his greatest achievement.
  • College China by Wedgwood, commissioned by President Lowell in 1927 for Harvard, displayed in the museum’s decorative art cases.
  • Design elements: border patterns copied from 19th-century Staffordshire china fragments found on campus; center designs adapted from Professor Kenneth J. Conant’s architectural drawings of Harvard buildings.
  • The Harvard University Archives assumed responsibility for the collection, assembled largely by Mason Hammond '25 and David W. Bailey '21.

Photographs

Two black-and-white photos illustrate the article:

  1. Top photo: A close-up of a large, dark-bodied Portland vase with white relief decoration depicting classical figures and trees — a hallmark of neoclassical Wedgwood design.

  2. Bottom photo: A display case showing several pieces of Wedgwood plates and teacups, arranged in a museum setting. The plates have intricate designs, some likely featuring architectural scenes, consistent with the article’s description.


Physical Presentation

The printed article is mounted on a simple, light-brown paper folder, possibly used in archival or university record-keeping. Two metal binder rings are visible along the left edge, indicating the folder is part of a bound or loose-leaf collection.


Significance

This clipping documents a moment in the cultural and academic history of Harvard University — showcasing its stewardship of art and historical artifacts associated with the university’s identity, such as the "College China" commissioned for official use. The reference to June 31 is likely a typographical error (as June has only 30 days).

In summary: This is a 1973 archival document from Harvard University highlighting an exhibition of historic Wedgwood pottery, with photographs and text describing its significance to campus culture and academic heritage.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

The image appears to be a page from a publication, specifically a newsletter or magazine, titled "HARVARD TODAY." It is dated June 1973 and provides information about an exhibit of Wedgwood ceramics at the Fogg Art Museum, which is located at Harvard University.

The page contains two main sections:

  1. Top Section:

    • Image: A detailed black-and-white photograph of a Wedgwood Portland vase, which is noted as Josiah Wedgwood's personal choice as his greatest achievement.
    • Text: The text mentions "Old Wedgwood," the 150-piece Grenville Lindall Winthrop collection, which is on display at the Fogg Art Museum until June 24. It provides additional context about the Portland vase, mentioning Josiah Wedgwood's personal preference for it.
  2. Bottom Section:

    • Image: A photograph of a display case containing various pieces of Harvard Wedgwood ceramics. The display includes plates and other decorative items. One plate appears to have a scenic design, while others have ornamental patterns.
    • Text: This section describes the Harvard Wedgwood collection, which includes pieces ordered in the early 1950s and earlier ceramics commissioned by President Lowell in 1927. It mentions that border designs were copied from fragments of early 19th-century Staffordshire china found by Mr. Lowell at a campus construction site. The text also notes that Professor of Architecture Kenneth J. Conant's drawings of Harvard College buildings were adapted for the center designs of the ceramics.

The page is printed in black and white, with a focus on providing information about the historical and artistic significance of the Wedgwood ceramics in the Harvard collection.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

This image appears to be a page from a publication titled "HARVARD TODAY," dated June 1973. The page includes a photograph of a vase and a display of decorative items, along with a descriptive text.

Description of the Page:

  • Header: The top left corner of the page contains the address "HARVARD TODAY, 1350 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, Mass. 02138" and mentions that second-class postage is paid at Boston, Mass. 02109, and that it is printed in the U.S.A.
  • Main Text: The text describes the "Old Wedgwood" exhibit, which consists of a 150-piece Grenville Lindall Winthrop collection on display at the Fogg Art Museum through June 24. It mentions that the Portland vase was Josiah Wedgwood's personal choice as his greatest achievement. The text also discusses the decorative art cases containing a companion display of College China by Wedgwood, highlighting pieces ordered in the early 1950s and earlier china commissioned by President Lowell in 1927.
  • Photograph of the Vase: The top right section of the page features a black-and-white photograph of a vase. The vase has a classical design with figures and a tree depicted on it.
  • Photograph of the Display: The bottom right section shows a black-and-white photograph of a display case containing various decorative items, including plates and cups, with intricate designs and patterns.
  • Date: The bottom right corner of the page has the date "June 1973" written in blue ink.

The overall layout and content suggest that this page is from a newsletter or magazine highlighting an art exhibit at Harvard University.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image is a page from a magazine or newspaper, likely from the 1970s. The page has a beige background with a white border. In the center of the page, there are two photographs, one above the other. The top photograph shows a vase with a decorative design. The bottom photograph shows a display of plates and cups in a glass case. The text at the top of the page reads "HARVARD TODAY," and the date "June 1973" is at the bottom.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

This image is of a page from a Harvard Today magazine. The page is dated June 1973. The page features an image of a vase with an image of two people on it. Below the image of the vase, there is a smaller image of a display case with plates and cups. The article on the page is about the 150-piece Wedgwood collection that was on display at the Fogg Art Museum.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image depicts a vintage informational sheet or flyer, likely from a museum or gallery exhibit. It is designed with a clean, structured layout and includes both textual and visual elements. Here's a detailed description:

Header:

  • The top of the sheet features a header that reads:
    "HARVARD TODAY"
    Below this, the address is provided:
    "1350 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Mass. 02138"
    Additional details indicate that it is a second-class postage paid at Boston, Mass. 02110, and it was printed in the U.S.A.

Visual Elements:

  1. Top Image (Left Side):

    • A detailed illustration or photograph of a ceramic vase is shown.
    • The vase is black with white decorative designs, featuring classical motifs such as figures, possibly mythological or historical scenes, and floral or leafy patterns.
    • The vase appears to be part of an exhibit, as indicated by the accompanying text.
  2. Bottom Image (Right Side):

    • A black-and-white photograph of a display case or exhibit area is shown.
    • Inside the case, there are several ceramic plates and bowls, each with intricate designs.
    • The plates appear to be part of a curated collection, possibly from an art exhibit or museum display.

Textual Content:

  • The text on the right side of the sheet provides context about the exhibit:
    • It mentions the "Old Wedgwood, the 150-piece Grenville Lindall Winthrop collection," which is on view at the Fogg Art Museum through June 24.
    • It notes that this is a first edition copy of a personal choice by Josiah Wedgwood, highlighting its significance.
    • The text also references "The Fogg's decorative art cases containing a pension display of College China by Wedgwood," indicating that the exhibit includes a variety of Wedgwood pieces.
    • Additional details mention Harvard designs copied from fragments of early 19th-century Staffordshire china, found by Mr. Lowell Lowell in 1927, and borrowed from the exhibit.
    • It also notes that Harvard University Archives have assumed responsibility for a collection of Harvard china assembled mainly through the efforts of Mason Hammond, who was the Pope Professor of Latin and Honorary Keeper of the Corporation Records.

Footer:

  • At the bottom of the sheet, there is a handwritten signature or date: "June 1973."

Overall Context:

The sheet appears to be an informational flyer or brochure promoting an art exhibit at the Fogg Art Museum, likely related to the Wedgwood collection and Harvard china. It combines visual representations of the artifacts with detailed textual descriptions, providing visitors with context about the exhibit's contents and significance. The design is simple and functional, typical of mid-20th-century museum or academic promotional materials.

OpenAI, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

The image shows a newspaper or magazine clipping mounted on a brown sheet of paper, with two black and white photographs and accompanying text.

The top photo displays a vase with a classical design in dark tones, decorated with figures and floral motifs. Next to it is a paragraph of text describing the vase and related art pieces. It mentions "OLD WEDGEWOOD," a 150-piece Grenville Lindall Winthrop collection at the Fogg Art Museum, including a first edition copy of the Portland vase. The text details the significance of these items, their historical context, and the involvement of Harvard University Archives in managing a collection of Harvard china. It also includes names of people responsible for efforts related to this collection.

The lower photo shows a display case with several pieces of china, including a large platter, plates, cups, and saucers, arranged neatly inside. The date "June 1973" is handwritten beneath this photo in blue ink.

The top left corner of the clipping includes Harvard Today magazine's address in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and indicates that the printing was done in the USA with second-class postage paid in Boston, Massachusetts. The brown mounting paper has two holes punched on the left side, suggesting it might be part of a scrapbook or archival binder.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-11-20

The image appears to be a scrapbook-style layout showing an article or magazine clipping about historical ceramic or pottery pieces.

The top portion features a black-and-white photo of a decorative vase with elaborate designs. The vase has two handles and portrays figures engaged in various activities set against a dark background.

Next to the vase is accompanying text describing the significance and history of the artifacts. It mentions "Old Wedgwood," a 150-piece Greenville Lindall Winthrop collection displayed at the Fogg Art Museum. It references the Portland vase and College China by Wedgwood, along with contributions by individuals such as President Lowell and Mason Hammond.

The lower portion displays another black-and-white photo of a collection of plates, saucers, and cups arranged in a museum exhibit case. The plates are intricately designed, with detailed patterns and images.

The handwritten note “June 1973” marks the date of the clipping. Above, the source is identified as "Harvard Today," with Harvard's address printed at the top left.

The work is visually framed on a scrapbook page with rounded edges for display purposes.

OpenAI, gpt-4

This image is a photograph of a page that appears to be from a publication or a brochure. The top part of the page includes a header with the text "HARVARD TODAY 1350 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, Mass. 02138" and a notice about the publication place and postage details. Below the header, there is a section of text discussing "Old Winecooler, the 19-piece Grenville Lindall Winthrop collection, Josiah Wedgwood's 'Portland Vase'," and other related historical items and collections. Accompanying the text, there is a photograph of a black vase with classical white reliefs, likely a representation of the Portland Vase or a similar artifact.

The bottom half of the page features a second photograph of china plates displayed on a shelf or within a display cabinet. The china plates and cups have decorative patterns, characteristic of antique or historically significant pieces.

At the very bottom of the page, handwritten in ink, is the date "June 1973," likely indicating when the photograph was taken or when the page was printed or published. The page is mounted on a brownish background, and there is a hole punched into the top left corner, perhaps for placing it into a binder or for similar filing purposes.

OpenAI, gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07

A scrapbook page on light brown card with three punched holes along the left edge. It contains two black-and-white newspaper clippings arranged vertically.

  • The top clipping shows a large vase with two handles and decorative figures around its body, with a small header that reads “HARVARD TODAY” and a block of caption text beside it.
  • The bottom clipping is a photograph of a display case containing Wedgwood china—plates and small pieces arranged on shelves.
  • At the bottom edge of the clipping, someone has handwritten “June 1973” in blue ink.