NRF promotes and invests in the architectural heritage of the Newport community, the traditional building trades, and Doris Duke’s fine and decorative arts collections, for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of all.
As a leader in the preservation of early American architecture, NRF supports research and education in areas directly related to its collections and issues of critical concern to the field of historic preservation.
Visit Doris Duke’s art-filled mansion and enjoy panoramic ocean views from the extensive grounds. Open late March to November.
The Vernon House is a site for expansive story-telling, contemporary dialogue, and preservation trades skill-building. Opening July 1, 2023: NRF and Art&Newport are excited to present a group artists exhibition on cards and card playing: Games, Gamblers & Cartomancers: The New Cardsharps
Newport Restoration Foundation holds one of the largest collections of period architecture owned by a single organization anywhere in the United States.
Celebrate excellence in historic preservation efforts within the City of Newport, Rhode Island.
Live amidst history by renting one of our many historic properties.
Fired & Inspired: Ceramics at Rough Point examined the diverse ceramic collection of Doris Duke. It also featured newly commissioned work by seven contemporary clay artists inspired by Rough Point, the grounds, and the life of Doris Duke.
Plate
Planter
Footed Cup
An example of the Hispano-Moresque style, this rounded plate, or charger, was likely made in Valencia, Spain. Its abstract foliate pattern betrays the Islamic influence on that region during the 15th century. The metallic sheen of the surface decoration would have been achieved through two firings. After the first firing, the piece was glazed with a paint containing copper and silver and then fired again at a lower temperature, which produces the luster finish.
This large planter features four medallions with Chinese guardian lions, known as “Fu Dogs,” a symbol of protection in Chinese culture. The planter’s turquoise color is created by mixing copper into the glaze; it was one of the most popular glazes in ceramics made during the Ming dynasty.
One of the most striking features of this cup is its prominent lion-paw feet, a popular classical motif adapted by European artists and designers from the late 18th through early 20th centuries. Josef Riedl opened his porcelain decorating studio in Struzna, Bohemia (Czech Republic), in 1890 and was known for high-quality painted pieces that mimicked the designs of the Viennese Imperial and Royal Porcelain Manufactory (IPM). While he did not make direct copies of IPM pieces, Riedl was strategic in how he signed his work, using a beehive maker’s mark similar to that found on authentic IPM items.
