Ms. Pgh visits... The Maridon Museum

It’s a weird location for such a treasure, in a modern structure made from two converted homes on a residential street of Butler. Just a short drive from downtown Pittsburgh, the Maridon Museum features works of Chinese and Japanese art from the personal collection of Mary Hulton Phillips. Although the late Ms. Phillips never actually visited Asia, she had a passion for collecting not only Chinese and Japanese art, but also the European art influenced by it.

When I visited on a recent Sunday, I found the collection of carved ivory and jade sculptures particularly impressive. I also enjoyed the varying designs of the dozens of snuff bottles. And, if you smile and ask nicely you might get a personal tour of the collection of samurai dolls, which is housed in a temperature- and humidity-controlled room in the back.

The building, although tiny, is lovely. The collection is impeccable. Even the gift shop has the unique museum items you’d expect, but they are incredibly inexpensive. The Sunday clerk told me that Ms. Phillips personally selected every item in the shop, specifically stating that they were not to be sold for profit. My friend J surprised me with a beautiful silver ring that features a green amber stone in a uniquely modern setting.

xox

ms. pgh