Beyond Blue and White

Join Preservation Long Island for a lecture, Q&A, and book signing with author Genevieve Wheeler Brown

DATE AND TIME

Sat, March 07, 2026

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EST

LOCATION

Preservation Long Island Exhibition Gallery

161 Main Street

Cold Spring Harbor, New York

Register

DETAILS

In the fall of 2019, more than 75 rare pieces of 17th- and 18th-century Delftware were discovered in a historic Manhattan townhouse. Decorative arts expert Genevieve Wheeler Brown unveils the history behind this remarkable find, drawing on her book Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden History of Delftware and the Women Behind the Iconic Ceramic—recently named an NPR Here & Now Editors’ Pick and praised in glowing reviews by The Magazine ANTIQUES and The Wall Street Journal. Brown explores how these vibrant ceramics not only represent a beloved decorative art form but also illuminate the powerful, often overlooked roles of women across the centuries. Audiences will meet pioneering Delft pottery owners such as Barbara Rotteveel, founder of the influential Three Bells factory in 1671, as well as Queen Mary II, whose enthusiasm helped propel Delft into royal favor. She also highlights trailblazing Gilded-Age collectors—including Frances Louisa Morgan, wife of J. Pierpont Morgan, and Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt, wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt II—whose passion for preservation shaped museum culture and opened doors for women in leadership. Using rich visual materials, from period objects to historic artworks, Brown looks beyond the iconic cobalt glaze to reveal a vivid narrative of artistry, female agency, and cultural history embedded in Delftware. Brown’s book, Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden History of Delftware and the Women Behind the Iconic Ceramic (Pegasus Books), will be available for purchase.

TICKETS Selected during registration

General Admission

$20.00 (1 Attendee)

Members

$15.00 (1 Attendee)

General Admission and Book

$43.90 (1 Attendee)

$20 admission+$23.90 discounted book. The book will be available at the full price of $29.95 at the event (plus tax).

Member Admission and Book

$38.90 (1 Attendee)

$15 admission+$23.90 discounted book. The book will be available at the full price of $29.95 at the event (plus tax).