Treasures From The Vault

Monthly pop-up exhibit of rarely seen treasures

Did you know the Forsyth collections include porcelain from the Ming, Yongzheng, and Meji Dynasties and Japanese cloisonné from the 19th century? A wonderful collection of early American furniture, quilts, and pewter? Roseville and Rookwood pottery? In order to share these rarely seen gems, the Forsyth showcased a monthly pop-up exhibit, which featured some of these treasures online and in the main gallery from 2019–2022.

2022 Treasures

In 2022, the Forsyth Galleries partnered with the curatorial staff at the Texas A&M Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections (BRTC) to exhibit natural specimens in a rainbow of colors, along with corresponding colors from the Forsyth collections.

November/December

The Chihuahuan Raven, an all-black bird, gets its color from melanin, the same molecule that provides color to our own skin. It provides strength and makes the bird more aerodynamic. This raven specimen is seen paired with black and white objects from the Forsyth Collections.

 

September/October

Purple Gallinules, like the specimen seen here, have long legs with long toes that help them walk onto floating vegetation by distributing their weight. This Gallinule is seen on display with purple-hued glass vases, bowls, and pitchers from the Forsyth’s collections.

 

July/August

Indigo Buntings, seen here (blue male and brown female), migrate at night using the stars for guidance and possess an internal clock that enables them to continually adjust their angle of orientation to a star. This exhibit features Indigo Buntings with brilliant blue glass from the Forsyth collections.
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May/June

The official mascot of the city of Brownsville, Texas, the long-lived Red-crowned Parrot, announces itself with a throaty screech, is easy to spot, and will roost in the same location for decades. This exhibit unites the parrot with brightly-hued green glass from the Forsyth collections.
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March/April

The African Black-Headed Oriole, like the one seen here from the Texas A&M Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections (BRTC) , spends its days in the canopies of trees and has a distinct, musical call. This exhibit features a combination of yellow, gold, and orange tones of decorative glass objects from the Forsyth collections.
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January/February

Roseate Spoonbills, like the one seen here from the Texas A&M Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections (BRTC) , get their rosy color from their diets, and their bill is shaped like a spatula, hence the name. This exhibit features a pink and red pairing with decorative glass objects from the Forsyth collections.