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curated by sierra gonzalez 
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“Art and design should never be frozen in time.”

--Ana Cela, director of the museum shop and publications at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, on the museum's inspired accessories line inspired by Renaissance master Domenico Ghirlandaio's portrait of Giovanna degli Albizzi Tornabuoni. “I see these beautifully crafted accessories and I’m instantly ‘feeling Giovanna,’ ” she said noting that, while not replicas of objects in the painting, the pieces transmit “the same Renaissance aesthetic.”  [http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/travel/05Heads.html">Renaissance Portrait Inspires Gift Shop Goods | NY Times ]

Filed under  //   merchandising   museum store  

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Smithsonian teams with QVC

The Smithsonian Institution has entered into a licensing agreement with QVC to develop a jewelry collection based on artifacts in the National Gem and Mineral Collection, a part of the National Museum of Natural History. According to the Washington Post, the line will include a "smaller version of the Hope Diamond", which will retail at $85.

Millions of people visit the museum each year, admiring its beautiful and rare jewelry and gemstone collection. Now our customers can share these national treasures in a very personal way as we give them access to owning jewelry based on items of great historical significance.

—Debra Puzio, QVC's director of merchandising

The Smithsonian's goal is to "create jewelry that is not only fashionable, but also serves to educate the public about the Smithsonian and the jewelry, gems and minerals found in its collections," according to Carol LeBlanc, director of consumer products for Smithsonian Enterprises. As with most other museum stores (see: the Met),  revenue from the Smithsonian's stores (the organization reported a 15% profit margin in 2007) goes back into the institution to support its programs and educational initiatives, but it's not clear if and how QVC would share the profits of this agreement. I also wonder whether shoppers agree with Carol LeBlanc and see their purchases as vehicles for personal edification--or whether it's instead about the perceived prestige of owning an authorized reproduction of a museum-worthy piece. (Or maybe it just looks nice. Who knows?) With the Smithsonian's move to sell their museum-inspired pieces through a third-party, home shopping TV network instead of directly to shoppers on site or online, it seems to dilute the messages of educational and cultural cachet. [Smithsonian and QVC Announce New Jewelry Line | CNN Money]

Filed under  //   branding   consumerism   cultural capital   merchandising   museum   museum store   smithsonian   television  

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