Boston Made:

Reacting against industrialization, Boston experienced a renaissance of hand-craftsmanship at the turn of the 20th century. This exhibition highlighted the distinctive "Boston look" of Arts and Crafts jewelry and metalwork that emerged from this moment, presenting 75 works—jewelry, tableware, accessories, and design drawings—within a compact 600-square-foot gallery.

Color and Material. Given the gallery's small scale, a dark, rich paint color was chosen to create a sense of intimacy while allowing the cases to stand out and shine against the backdrop, lending the whole room the feeling of a jewel box. Cases were constructed of metal or painted wood with thin frames that echoed the delicacy of the work on view. Stained wood details, incorporated into seating and text panels, brought warmth and material richness into the space.

Layout. To accommodate many objects and themes within a compact footprint, casework lined the gallery's perimeter, with each wall dedicated to a distinct theme. Two low table cases anchored the center of the room, allowing three-dimensional objects to be viewed in the round.

Case Design and Lighting. The perimeter cases functioned like small display windows, inviting close looking. Each was fitted with small magnetic spotlights hidden below the labels and above on the case's metal frame, allowing individual pieces to be spotlit precisely without light bleeding beyond the case.