The Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum
UGA has numerous museums on its campus. The newest is the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum, which is part of and located at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, at twenty-four fifty South Milledge Avenue, next to the garden’s visitor center. Through the generosity of longtime UGA patron Deen Day Sanders, the museum and its collection represent nearly half a century of her avid interest in fine porcelain.
The porcelain pieces on display highlight works inspired by nature, particularly flowers, butterflies and birds by Dorothy Doughty and Diane Lewis. Other collections on display focus on coffee, tea and hot chocolate and the beautiful porcelains created to serve them. A stunning wall displays a collection of Flora Danica porcelains, each hand-painted with flowers.
The two-story building includes beautiful gallery spaces and a large classroom that opens onto the display gardens to expand the learning experience. Visitors will see items that complement the porcelain displays and support learning about natural history and porcelain, including works by Pierre-Joseph Redouté and prints by the 18th-century naturalist John Abbott. Lifelike copper sculptures of wildflowers by the artist Trailer McQuilkin represent meticulous attention and observation of the natural world.
Museum programming includes tours, field trips, classes and events. The garden’s mission for the museum is to nurture a lasting connection to nature through decorative arts. The Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Entry to the museum is free, and no reservations are required.