Metropolitan Museum of Art Announces Fifth Avenue Renovation Plans

February 8, 2012 – 8:17 am |

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has unveiled plans for a comprehensive redesign of the four-block-long outdoor plaza that runs in front of its landmark Fifth Avenue façade, from 80th to 84th Streets in Manhattan. Rendering showing bird’s-eye view of proposed Fifth Avenue plaza redesign (image: OLIN) The plan also calls for the creation of new fountains—to replace the deteriorating ones that have been in use since they were built in the 1970s along with the existing plaza. The fountains will be ... Read More

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Smithsonian and QVC(R) Announce New Jewelry Collection

April 12, 2010 – 2:06 pmNo Comment

Collection Will Be Inspired by the National Gem and Mineral Collection at the National Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex, and QVC, one of the world’s largest multimedia retailers, have entered into a licensing agreement to offer a jewelry collection based on objects in the National Gem and Mineral Collection, which is part of the National Museum of Natural History. The collection is scheduled to launch this fall.

The National Gem and Mineral Collection contains more than 375,000 individual specimens and includes such famous pieces as the Hope Diamond and the Marie Antoinette Earrings, as well as a research and mineral collection used by scientists around the world.

“The Smithsonian is delighted to work with QVC, a proven leader in multimedia retailing,” said Carol LeBlanc, director of consumer products for Smithsonian Enterprises. “Together, we will create jewelry that is not only fashionable, but also serves to educate the public about the Smithsonian and the jewelry, gems and minerals found in its collections.”

The jewelry will include earrings, rings, bracelets, pins and brooches, as well as replicas of pieces in the museum’s collection. This is the first time that the Smithsonian has entered into a relationship with a retailer to sell high-quality jewelry based on the museum’s collection.

“We are thrilled to team up with the Smithsonian to offer our customers jewelry inspired by one of its largest attractions — the National Gem and Mineral Collection,” said Debra Puzio, QVC’s director of merchandising. “Millions of people visit the museum each year, admiring its beautiful and rare jewelry and gemstone collection. Now our customers can share these national treasures in a very personal way as we give them access to owning jewelry based on items of great historical significance.”