Dr. and Mrs. Bernard H. Kessner Collection of Doughty Birds

Collection

Identifier: 11-MWalb02745

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of seven bone china sculptures of American songbirds, insects, and flora, designed by well-known British artist, Dorothy Susan Doughty (1892–1962). The sculptures were created at the Royal Worcester Ceramic Works in Stoke-on-Trent, England. These sculptural models were purchased and donated to Brandeis by Dr. Bernard Kessner and Mrs. Miriam Kessner, who were benefactors of the University in the 1960s and 1970s. Source: "Dr. and Mrs. Bernard H. Kessner Collection of Doughty Birds" Special Collections Spotlight Essay, by Surella Seelig and Chloe Gerson, August 1, 2016

Dates

Creation: circa 1941-1958

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use and has no known restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests to reproduce or publish material from the collection should be directed to the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.

Extent

7 Linear Feet (7 sculptures in storage boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

There is no discernable arrangement noted for this collection.

Custodial History

The sculptures in this collection were designed by artist, Dorothy Susan Doughty (1892–1962), and manufactured at the Royal Worcester Ceramic Works in Stoke-on-Trent, England. They were then purchased and donated to the Brandeis Library in mulitple accessions by Bernard and Miriam Kessner, between 1968-1970.

Processing Information

Some of the sculptures are on loan to the Rose Art Museum, as part of Mark Dion's permanent exhibition entitled, "The Undisciplined Collector."

The provenance of this collection was traced by consulting of donation correspondence between the donor and Brandeis University Administrators.