Rienzi, the MFAH house museum for European decorative arts, presents special exhibitions twice a year. The estate is the former home of philanthropists Carroll Sterling Masterson and Harris Masterson III, who were known for collecting fine ceramics. The Connoisseur’s Eye: New Perspectives on Ceramics in the Rienzi Collection highlights their extensive collection of porcelain.

Recent research has uncovered new information on pieces from lesser-known factories in Europe, including Longton Hall Porcelain, the Naples Royal Porcelain Factory, and St. James’s Porcelain Factory. These discoveries shed new light on the Mastersons’ wide-ranging interests as collectors.

The Connoisseur’s Eye expands the story of 18th-century ceramics in the Rienzi Collection beyond the holdings from major porcelain factories such as Meissen, Sèvres, and Worcester.