“Although the result is obtained by chemical means, the little work it entails will greatly please ladies.” So wrote one of photography’s inventors, Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1787–1851), about his eponymous daguerreotype in 1839. Daguerre’s words, which associate women with idleness, are clearly misogynistic. Yet in a backhanded way, Daguerre predicted the pivotal role women would play in photography since its invention in the 1830s. Undaunted by photographic chemistry—and often neglected or derided ...

This exhibition presents over 100 spoons from across the globe, each a reflection of a specific cultural context–between intimate traditions of home and family, celebratory preparations of food and drink, and the spiritual gestures of giving thanks for sustenance. Around the world, spoons are essential implements that help us scoop, stir, mash, skim, cook, and ...

"Layered Narratives: Quilted Stories of Gender and Race at the 1876 Centennial" explores gender and racial politics at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition through the medium of centennial quilts from Mingei’s permanent collection. The centennial celebrated the 100-year independence of the United States from Great Britain and featured various installations—ranging from foreign exhibitions to art galleries ...

Located on Mingei’s free Entry Level, Tuck and Roll: The Art of Armadillos showcases over 80 armadillo figures from Mingei’s permanent collection! Featuring works made by artisans across the Americas, this playful installation emphasizes the joy of making things by hand and how these extraordinary creatures have delighted people’s imagination.

In Japan, lacquer—derived from the sap of the lacquer tree—has been used for over 10,000 years as a natural adhesive and protective coating. Its remarkable durability, which resists both acids and alkalis, has enabled ancient lacquered artifacts to survive to this day. Across Asia, where lacquer trees naturally grow, this unique material has long been ...