(Re)Collecting: Southeast Asia at the Johnson Museum

Ruth Burdick Sharp (1910-2011) donated 182 ceramic objects from Southeast Asia to the Johnson Museum. She collected them over decades of traveling around the world, especially between Bangkok, Thailand, and Ithaca, New York. Gradually developing deep knowledge of Asian ceramics, Ruth assembled a collection that is used often in classes and regularly displayed on the fifth floor of the museum. When Ruth started collecting in the 1950s, she was one of the first individuals from outside of the region to take a special interest in the pots, plates, bowls, sherds, and figurines that were found, recognized, and used among local communities for centuries. She is especially remembered for her warm, genuine demeanor and her ability to turn any gathering into a true party that vibrated with excitement and possibility.