Luxury & Loss: Feather, Shell, Tusk, Horn

Some of the most luxurious historical objects in Asian, European, and American art were made from four natural materials taken from the animal world: kingfisher feathers, tortoise shell, rhinoceros horn, and elephant ivory. For centuries, these materials were desired by the powerful and wealthy due to their scarcity and the difficult nature of obtaining and working with them. However, the cost to wildlife, coupled with a growing environmental consciousness, led to all four materials being banned from use in artworks starting in the 20th century.

Luxury & Loss: Feather, Shell, Tusk, Horn takes a deep dive into the history surrounding objects made from these materials and features a number of objects drawn from the Walters’ collections of Asian, European, American, and African art. The exhibition showcases remarkable examples of each of the four materials and looks at how art and luxury goods made from wild animal materials testify to the enduring human desire to capture the beauty and power of wild animals while exploring contemporary responses to society’s evolving relationship with nature, providing an opportunity for reflection and reconciliation.