Tea Time at The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum

This year, BRAHM has partnered with The Spice and Tea Exchange to create some delicious teas themed after works from our permanent collection. The works that we have chosen to draw inspiration from are centered around a group of women artists who studied under Elliott Daingerfield. This group of women referred to themselves as “The Philadelphia Ten”, but are more known in local history as “The Painting Ladies”. The Museum’s goal with this partnership is to celebrate the rich history of the region, and to bring it to life in a beloved tradition from all around the world: tea time.

We are thrilled to offer a wide range of teas for all occasions. We hope that you find the perfect pairing of tea and artwork below.

The Philidelphia Ten

The Philadelphia Ten, a group of women artists, were all, except for Emma MacRae, taught by Elliott Daingerfield at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (PSDW). Daingerfield’s students also traveled to Blowing Rock for his summer art classes, where they were named the “painting ladies” by Daingerfield’s eldest daughter, Marjorie.

Daingerfield, who taught at PSDW from 1895-1915, was an advocate for women artists during a time when they were denied the privileges of their male counterparts. Many art organizations would not accept or exhibit the work of women based solely on their gender. In 1917, a group of women artists, who had all attended art schools in Philadelphia, organized The Philadelphia Ten for “moral support, friendly competition, and good fellowship.” Although this group planned exhibitions and collectively showcased their members’ work for nearly thirty years, each artist maintained a strong sense of individuality, and many became accomplished, independent artists.

Edith Lucile Howard

Howard studied at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (PSDW) from 1904 to 1908, where she was strongly influenced by her teachers Elliott Daingerfield and Henry B. Snell. Her summer travels to Blowing Rock captured her heart and inspired her artistic interest in the foggy landscapes of Ireland. Her paintings were seen as interpretations of the moods of land and sky. She reminisced how Daingerfield took his students out to paint in the rain, so “they could capture the beauty of the country the minute it stopped.” Howardtaught at the PSDW, exhibited widely, and was a member of The Philadelphia Ten.

Constance Cochrane

Cochrane was born into a Naval family and spent time designing camouflage for Navy ships during the first and second war. During peace-time, she spent many summers on Monhegan Island, painting stunning seascapes, coastlines, and wind-whipped trees on the water’s edge. She demonstrated early artistic talent and enrolled in the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (PSDW) in 1906. There, she credited Elliott Daingerfield for being her most influential teacher, who “broadened her field and ambition to include bold color, and ultimately to paint the sea.” She also traveled to Blowing Rock, taught at the PSDW, and was a member of The Philadelphia Ten.

Constance Cochrane (American, 1888-1962), Golden Poplars, Blowing Rock, NC, undated, oil on canvas, 14.5 x 17.75 inches, Gift of the Janet H. Wilson Family, BRAHM Permanent Collection, 2020.04.04, photograph by Joshua White

Nancy Maybin Ferguson

Ferguson grew up in Philadelphia and attended the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (PSDW) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art over the years from 1892 to 1912. While it is not known for sure if Ferguson studied in Blowing Rock with Elliott Daingerfield, she credits Daingerfield for being a primary influence on her painting technique while at the PSDW. Ferguson’s en plein air landscapes and cityscapes were considered Modernist long before the movement came to America. Her decorative, geometric style of painting distinguished her from other members of The Philadelphia Ten.

Nancy Maybin Ferguson (American, 1872-1967), The Procession, undated, oil on canvas, 17.5 by 17.5 inches, Gift of the Janet H. Wilson Family, BRAHM Permanent Collection, 2020.05.04, photograph by Joshua White

Emma Fordyce McRae (American, 1887-1974), New York from my Window, undated, oil on masonite, 28 by 34 inches, Gift of the Janet H. Wilson Family, BRAHM Permanent Collection, 2020.05.01, photograph by Joshua White

Tea Paring

Howards Horizon

The comforting flavors of vanilla and cream combine to lighten the citrus notes of a traditional Earl Grey. With its soft, warm flavors, this is a great tea to start your day.

Ingredients

Black Tea, Orange Peel, Cornflower,

Natural Flavor (Vanilla, Bergamot, & Creme). Contains Caffeine

2 tsp | 8 oz | 200° F | 3 Min

Packaged by the Spice and Tea Exchange of Blowing Rock in partnership with the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum.

Emma Fordyce MacRae

MacRae was educated at the New York School of Art (1911-1913) and Art Students League (1915-1918) before joining The Philadelphia Ten in 1937. Unlike the other artists in Janet Wilson’s collection, she did not study with Elliott Daingerfield in Blowing Rock or at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. MacRae’s paintings were unique among The Philadelphia Ten for their flat, simple forms, decorative surfaces, and spare application of paint. Her style often referenced the cool, detached sensibilities of Japanese prints. In 1951, MacRae became the only painter of The Philadelphia Ten to achieve the honor of becoming an academician in the National Academy of Design.

Arrah Lee Gaul (American, 1883-1980), Natural Bridge, undated, oil on canvas, 24 by 28 inches, Museum purchase, BRAHM Permanent Collection, T.2024.009.001, photograph by Joshua White

Arrah Lee Gaul

Gaul studied at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where Elliott Daingerfield became a key influence on her development as a painter. Like other members of The Philadelphia Ten, she visited Blowing Rock at Daingerfield’s invitation to capture the Blue Ridge landscapes in her luminous, impressionistic style. Gaul’s landscapes and still lifes blend loose brushwork and soft color harmonies, often depicting scenes conjured from memory or imagination. She exhibited extensively, taught for many years at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, and was an active member of the pioneering women artists' collective, The Philadelphia Ten.

Edith Lucille Howard (American, 1885-1959), Down Under the Blue Ridge, undated, oil on canvas, 23.25 by 27.75 inches, Gift of the Janet H. Wilson Family, BRAHM Permanent Collection, 2020.04.09, photograph by Joshua White