Click on images below to enlarge:
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| The Enid A. Haupt Garden, a French-style parterre in front of the
Smithsonian Castle, looks nice even in the winter.
| Off to the side, the Moongate Garden.
| A story of overly ambitious plans for James Smithson's memorial. I'm
glad it didn't get built in that form--it would feel out of place to me
on the Mall--but maybe if it was already here when I grew up I would think
it perfectly natural.
| The tiny bejeweled model of the Smithsonian Castle reminded me of a
similar one I saw of a Russian palace the month before.
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| Details.
| Some nicely detailed carved ivory with an impressive amount of material
removed from behind the figures (though obviously some
pieces I saw in China were better).
Artificially brightened.
| It never occurred to me that one could patent lamp designs (as opposed to
just trademark or copyright their appearance), but I guess it makes
sense if the design has utility. See especially item two.
| The lamps, for completeness.
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| The West Wing is architecturally like a cathedral or great hall, but no
cathedral would have a stuffed peacock on display.
| Looking the other direction: more stuffed animals and numerous display
cases.
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