The Wolfsonian–FIU

Some museum objects were made to be looked at closely. This one was made to ride. Manufactured by BMW in 1962, the R 60/2 has instant old-movie magic: black paint, bright chrome, red leather, and a very tempting sidecar—evoking images of a cartoon chase scene or a very stylish European road trip. Artist and motorcyclist Robert Chambers was one of the rare people lucky enough to ride it, driving the motorcycle from the home of its donors, Dr. David and Linda Frankel, to The Wolfsonian–FIU. Watch the motorcycle’s ride to the museum in the video on slide 7! 👀🎥 Now on view in “Modern Design Across Borders,” our iconic BMW motorcycle invites a different kind of ride: a closer look at how modern design movements emerged between the world wars and influenced every part of our daily lives. #Wolfsonian Collection, Gift of Dr. David and Linda Frankel 🏍️ “Motorcycle, BMW R 60/2,” 1962. Bayerische Motoren Werke, Munich, Germany, manufacturer. 🏍️ “Sidecar, Steib S500,” c. 1955. Steib, Nuremberg, Germany, manufacturer. #bmwmotorcycle #moderndesign #robertchambers

Falling down the rabbit hole… 🕳️🐇 Made for the Federal Art Project in 1935 under the direction of Edris Eckhardt—a pioneering female artist who led its ceramics and sculpture division—this figurine brings “Alice in Wonderland” into the world of American design. Born Edythe Eckhardt, she later changed her name to Edris as she navigated the art world during a time when women were often passed over for opportunities. Like the Cheshire Cat, she reshaped how she appeared and moved through the world—did you notice the one hiding here? #Wolfsonian Collection, Gift of #MickyWolfson 🏺 Figurine, “Alice in Wonderland series,” 1935–36. Edris Eckhardt, artist. Federal Art Project, maker.

Haii, it’s Sophia, the social media intern! 🐿️ I’ve been really inspired learning about the power of video editing... Hope you’re inspired, too! #whyeditingisimportant #aprilfools

The painted floral decorations of this desk created 125 years ago show the pictorial talent of Alberto Issel, a well-known Italian landscape artist whose career was interrupted around 1880 due to an eye illness. His decorative arts workshop in Genoa became one of the most successful in Italy by the turn of the century, employing over 70 skilled artisans to create Liberty Style (or Stile Floreale) furniture—the Italian variant of Art Nouveau. And if you look at the space below the desk, there’s another surprise: a beautiful scene depicting fairies, cherubs, and classic Art Nouveau floral forms printed on soft velveteen, almost like a hidden painting built into the furniture. Currently on view in our exhibition “La Superba: Genoa and The Wolfsoniana” through June 28, 2026. #Wolfsonian Collection, Gift of #MickyWolfson 🪑 Desk for a lady, 1901. Alberto Issel, designer. Alberto Issel Workshop, Genoa, manufacturer. #ObjectoftheWeek #artnouveau

The Wolfsonian is not an Art Deco museum. But we do love Art Deco! In our collection spanning the century from 1850 to 1950, many of our objects come from the decade or two known as the Art Deco era—like the ones currently on view in our exhibition “Modern Design Across Borders.” 🎟️ Hint: You should check it out! But if you’re not in Miami Beach this weekend and happen to be near Sarasota instead (yes, this is a very specific scenario), check out “Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration” at Sarasota Art Museum. The exhibition spotlights rare Art Deco posters and illustrations, displayed alongside Wolfsonian objects on loan from our collection. Among them: an orange vinyl sofa from Cincinnati Union Terminal and a propeller-shaped table designed to hold magazines, both from the 1930s. We’ve also loaned a handful of other Deco-era curiosities that help bring the everyday Art Deco aesthetic to life. This weekend is your last chance to see Sarasota’s show! 🎟️ Second hint: You should check that out too, why not? Museums are fun <3 #Wolfsonian Collection, Gift of #MickyWolfson 🪑 Sofa from the Cincinnati Union Terminal, c. 1933. Paul Cret, designer. 🪑 Table from the Robert Scanlon residence, San Francisco, c. 1939. Archibald Taylor, designer. Ferrari, Fischer & Ferrari, San Francisco, maker. 🕰️ Clock with barometer, thermometer and calendar, c. 1925. L’Emeraude, Lausanne, Switzerland, manufacturer. 📮 Ticket taker booth from the Miami Theatre, Miami, c. 1946. S. Charles Lee, architect. 🪑Railroad table, 1930–1939. #Wolfsonian Collection, Gift of Harvey Mattel 📻 Radio Majestic 886, Park Avenue,1933. Milton C. Rosenow, designer. Grigsby-Grunow Company, Chicago, manufacturer. #ArtDeco #floridamuseum

Happy St. Patrick’s Day—and happy birthday to Irish artist Harry Clarke, creator of the wondrous masterpiece, the Geneva Window. Visitors captivated by this magical, mysterious work can explore it further through our audio guide, which unpacks Clarke’s narrative and visual choices along with the toll the window’s creation took on his life. The fourth panel in particular reveals a powerful and unexpected contrast between two seemingly unrelated scenes adapted from the Irish Literary Revival: "The Demi-Gods" by James Stephens, and "Juno and the Paycock" by Seán O’Casey. To hear more from curator Lea Nickless, listen to our audio tour on Bloomberg Connects. [Link in bio] #Wolfsonian Collection, Gift of #MickyWolfson 🪟 "Geneva Window," 1926–30. Harry Clarke, designer. Clarke Studios, maker. #StPatricksDay #HarryClarke #Ireland

Remember to move your clocks forward one hour. ⏰ Today marks two occasions: Daylight Saving Time and International Women’s Day—and, curiously, we found an object that brings together both ideas! This mantel clock from 1900 by Scottish artist Margaret Thomson Wilson features a female figure beneath the dial, possibly a representation of time itself. Margaret Wilson was part of the Glasgow School, Scotland’s distinctive branch of the Art Nouveau movement—reflected here in the clock’s flowing lines and stylized floral forms. One of the many cool things about The Wolfsonian is that there’s something here for everybody… and for every occasion. #Wolfsonian Collection, Gift of John H. Bryan 🕰️ Mantel clock, 1900. Margaret Thomson Wilson (Scottish, 1864–1912), designer. #objectoftheweek #daylightsaving #internationalwomensday

Nathaniel Sandler of Bookleggers—Miami’s roaming free bookstore based out of the historic Bakehouse Art Complex—stopped by The Wolfsonian to explore behind the stacks… but when he arrived, we took a detour through our World’s Fairs exhibition, raising all sorts of questions: • Did the Eiffel Tower originally have a different name? (The 300 Meter Tower!) 🤯 • Is Trylon and Perisphere the worst band name ever? (Still undecided) 🎶 • Is Futurama a World’s Fair exhibit from 1939 or a cartoon from the 90s? (Both) 🌎 • Who actually decides where World’s Fairs happen? (The Bureau International des Expositions, based in Paris) 🎡 • And is that structure in Spokane still standing? (Yes—recently restored) 😎 Experience the show for yourself in its final weekend! #WorldsFair #WolfsonianCollection

Cocktail shaker shaped like a zeppelin. What more do we need to say? You can see it for yourself—alongside other artifacts from the golden age of modern cocktail culture—in our exhibition “Modern Design Across Borders,” on view through June 28th. #Wolfsonian Collection, Gift of #MickyWolfson 🍸Shaker, Traveling Bar, Zeppelin, c. 1928. J. A. Henckels, Solingen, Germany, manufacturer

Sell the sizzle, not the steak. 🔥🥩 Designed for passengers aboard the ocean liner S.S. Argentina in 1948, this menu frames dinner as part of a larger lifestyle of leisure and travel. Bold, vibrant colors and a beach scene you want to step into whet the appetite more than any image of baked pickerel or fried liver and bacon ever could. Timely inspiration for Food & Wine Festival weekend happening right now in Miami Beach. 🍷🌴 #Wolfsonian Collection, Gift of #MickyWolfson 📘 Menu, 1948. Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., for the S.S. Argentina. #ObjectoftheWeek #foodandwinefestival #sobewff

Final month to experience “World’s Fairs: Visions of Tomorrow.” One of our most talked-about exhibitions—featured in the Miami Herald and The Wall Street Journal—included an immersive three-screen film that brought historic world’s fairs to life. It ran during the first half of the exhibition and is now featured on our blog (link in bio). #WorldsFairs #Wolfsonian #UltraWide #5120x1080

🧸✨Jellycat plush toys escape our Design Store and explore our world’s fairs exhibition after hours—courtesy of social media intern (and stop-motion artist!) Sophia Monteiro. The Wolfsonian is many things—a museum, library, event space, and a perfect gift shop. One of the many cool things we carry in the Design Store are Jellycats, and in Sophia’s reel, two of our plush pals sneak out for a little adventure… then wind down with a movie. Cozy ending guaranteed. #Jellycat #WorldsFair