Exhibition Lectures and Conversations
CAPITAL AND CULTURE BY KATHERINE HOWE AND T.J. STILES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2027
5:30 PM COCKTAILS | 6:00 PM LECTURE
What did it take to build one of America’s great fortunes, and what happened to the families, institutions, and society transformed by that wealth?
Katherine Howe, co-author with Anderson Cooper of Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, and T.J. Stiles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt, come together to explore the extraordinary creation and consequences of wealth during the Gilded Age.
Drawing on the rise of the Vanderbilt dynasty and the sweeping economic changes that followed the Civil War, the discussion examines the entrepreneurs, industries, and financial forces that reshaped the nation. It also explores how new fortunes translated into social influence, cultural patronage, magnificent homes, and extraordinary jewels that became symbols of status and ambition. Beyond the glamour of the period lies a more complex story of opportunity, inequality, transformation, and the legacy of an era that continues to shape American life.
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AN AMERICAN STYLE: Tiffany, the Flaglers, and the Gilded Age
BY CHRISTOPHER YOUNG AND CAMPBELL MOBLEY, Chief Curator
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2027
5:30 PM COCKTAILS | 6:00 PM LECTURE
As America’s wealth expanded during the Gilded Age, so too did its appetite for beauty, refinement, and luxury. At the forefront of this transformation was Tiffany & Co., whose artistry and innovation helped establish a distinctly American presence in the international world of fine jewelry and decorative arts.
Christopher Young, Vice President & Creative Director for Tiffany & Co., joins the Flagler Museum’s Chief Curator Campbell Mobley for an exploration of American taste at the turn of the twentieth century. Through the remarkable history of Tiffany, the collecting interests of the Flagler family, and the artistic influences that shaped the era, the conversation will illuminate how jewelry and decorative objects became expressions of identity, achievement, and cultural aspiration. Discover how American patrons and designers helped redefine luxury, drawing inspiration from European traditions while forging an aesthetic of their own. The discussion offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between art, commerce, and the creation of modern American style.
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THE MAKING OF MODERN LUXURY: Great Jewels and the Stories Behind Them
BY CAROL WOOLTON AND SPECIAL GUESTS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2027
5:30 PM COCKTAILS | 6:00 PM LECTURE
Every extraordinary jewel has a story to tell. Behind the dazzling creations of the Gilded Age were ambitious patrons, visionary designers, exceptional craftsmen, and the great jewelry houses competing to satisfy an unprecedented appetite for luxury. Jewelry historian, author, and exhibition guest curator Carol Woolton joins a panel of distinguished guests to explore the artistry, personalities, and innovations that transformed fine jewelry at the turn of the twentieth century. From American heiresses seeking distinction in European society to the designers and artisans who translated their ambitions into remarkable creations, the discussion will examine how advances in materials and techniques opened new possibilities for jewelry design, while changing social expectations reshaped the meaning of luxury. Drawing on the stories and objects at the heart of the exhibition, the panel will offer fresh perspectives on the intersection of wealth, taste, craftsmanship, and cultural change—and the enduring influence of the Gilded Age on modern luxury.
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