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The ceramicist Edmund de Waal's bestselling family memoir The Hare with the Amber Eyes tells the story of the Ephrussi dynasty's fortunes throughout 19th- and 20th-century Europe, from fabulous wealth, connoisseurship and cultural prestige to antisemitism, Nazi persecution and the dispersal of the family across three continents.
It is a book in which family, art, belonging and the meaning of collecting are all central themes, inspired by De Waal's inheritance of a collection of netsuke (miniature Japanese carvings) that miraculously survived the Nazis' looting of the family home in 1930s Vienna.
De Waal's new exhibition at Waddesdon Manor, the Rothschild estate in Buckinghamshire, shares many of these themes. The Rothschilds were peers of the Ephrussi family and related through marriage. Like the Ephrussis, they collected a huge amount of fine art, furniture and ceramics, as the opulent interiors of Waddesdon (donated to the National Trust in 1957) reveal.
Part 1: Edmund de Waal introduces the exhibition:
Waddesdon invited De Waal to install his distinctive, minimalist ceramics in locations throughout the house.
In these short videos, the artist explains his approach and draws out the common threads between this project and The Hare with the Amber Eyes, focusing on five of the 12 installations he has created.
Interviews by Emma Crichton-Miller, who writes about the exhibition in the forthcoming Summer edition of RA Magazine (published 25 May 2012).
Part 2: Edmund de Waal on his installation in the Breakfast Room, home of two notable examples of Meissen porcelain:
Part 3: Edmund de Waal on his installation in the Morning Room, which also serves as a library:
Part 4: Edmund de Waal on his installation in the Dining Room:
Part 5: Edmund de Waal on his installation in the Red Drawing Room:
Part 6: Edmund de Waal on his installation in the heart of the house, the Tower Drawing Room:
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All comments on this post - (10 comment)
Loved showing Edmund de Waal's pots to my niece. I've watched the six videos many times and find something new to think about each time . Diaspora caught our attention and would like to say thank you for explaining what all your work means to you so elequently. Reading 'Hare with Amber Eyes' again. - couldn't put it down the first time. Hoping we can get to Waddesdon before exhibition finishes.
Posted on: June 7, 2012 11:14 AM by Denise turner & Melissa Green
Edmund has done it again! His words have enriched the experience of his audience whether by reading or, as in this case, seeing these fascinating objects at Waddesdon. I went there last week and was quite overwhelmed by his beautiful installations in the context of this mansion and this family.
Posted on: May 12, 2012 12:56 AM by Merula Frankel
An extraordinary book that made inspired connections in history and how we see objects. Fascinating insight into these concepts extended to his work sited at Waddeston. Will certainly visit soon.
Posted on: May 5, 2012 5:54 PM by sarah noble
Thank you so much, the videos are quite inspirational. Edmund De Waal is an empathetic and expressivive person, amazing hands. How long is the exhibition on for ? What is "celadine" is it a form of porcelaine ? In one room there were 2 vitrines, one with porcelaine the other with celadine - I am sure I have not spelt it correctly. Thank you so much for posting the video, really wonderful
Posted on: May 5, 2012 5:52 PM by Wendy Dash
What a wonderful way of introducing this fascinating looking show. Having always thought that Waddesdon-style was not to my taste, I look forward to being persuaded otherwise...
Posted on: May 4, 2012 11:47 PM by Isabelle Reynolds
A very sensitive comment on loss. Particularly relevant to Edmund de Vaal. I enjoyed reading 'The Hare with the Amber Eyes' very much. Also it is a comment on aquiring objects and materialism. I do hope to be able to visit the exhibition.
Posted on: May 4, 2012 5:30 PM by Do Michell
That was a great treat to be taken through every vitrine at Waddeston by Edmund de Waal. After reading the Hare, I have been fascinated by his work that I first saw at Chatsworth. Wonderful, and maybe worth another visit to Waddeston to see the golden edges
Posted on: May 4, 2012 5:17 PM by Gill Graham Maw
Inspired and inspiring - thank you.
Posted on: May 4, 2012 5:07 PM by Maryjane Orley
An absolutely brilliant series of insights into Edmund's installations...I will visit as soon as possible. Thank you for the opportunity of seeing and hearing this impressive potter talking us through his ideas and inspirations.
Posted on: May 4, 2012 4:54 PM by Linda Tilbury
Brillant , SO well done and so inspiring watched on my screen on a rainy day in my central France second home ! matches the wonder of the book one cannot put down .. My planned visit to the Chardin exhibition will be enhanced by this experience and delight complementing it perfectly in its simplicity ,reflections and revelatory near spiritual attainment
Posted on: May 4, 2012 4:43 PM by Jeanine Gordon