Exhibits & Collections
Zoo in the House Exhibit
Doris Duke was an animal lover and kept numerous pets at Rough Point (including two camels!). Her vast art collection featured a wonderful array of pieces depicting animals as friends, adversaries and allegories. Highlights of the exhibit include a Tang Dynasty earthenware camel and horse, a bronze lion by Barye, a painting by Julien Dupre and several Audubon prints.
Currently on display at Rough Point.
Camel, Tang dynasty, ca. 618-906
Camels were pack animals for travel along the Silk Road. A sculpture of this size, shape, and detail would only be found in the tomb of a wealthy individual.
Penguin, ca. 20th century
Doris Duke kept these penguins at her house Duke Farms in New Jersey. They acted as doorstops in the "Hollywood" wing, a section of the house constructed in the 1930s and decorated in the Art Deco style.
Armchair, ca. 1780
The upholstery on this chair depicts the tales, "The Eagle and the Magpie," and "The Mouse and the Lion."
Screen, ca. 1720
François Desportes was one of the first artists to work for the French court painting hunting scenes and portraits of the royal dogs. He designed this screen depicting tales from the Fables of La Fontaine.
A Woman Leading a Cow, ca.1880
Julien Dupre focused his work on the life and work of peasant women, such as this beautifully rendered woman leading cows through a pasture.
Roof Tile, Ming dynasty, ca. 1368-1644
Animal sculptures commonly sat on the roof peaks of Chinese buildings. These animals acted as guardians to protect the house and those inside. A pair of fish represented prosperity and abundance.
Mantel Clock, ca. 1730-1760
Given its pale coloring, this figure of an elephant was most likely meant to depict an albino elephant, which can range in color from a pale gray to almost pink. The white elephant was a sign of luck in many Asian countries.
Walking Lion, ca. late-19th century
Barye sketched his remarkable animal sculptures from life by studying the animals at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris's zoological and botanical gardens.
Christian Dior Scarf, ca. 1955
The red bird on this scarf has many qualities of the phoenix of Western and Middle Eastern mythology, with its red flame-like feathers. The bird was thought to burst into flames and arise reborn from its own ashes.
Candlestick, ca. 18th century
In Chinese art, red bats represent happiness because the Chinese word for bat is pronounced the same way as the word for happiness. Red is also the color of joy.
