Generous gift from Joey and Toby Tanenbaum honours ROM CEO and Director, William Thorsell
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is proud to announce the temporary installation of a stunning Serpentine sculpture in the Hyacinth Gloria Chen Crystal Court, graciously donated by Joey and Toby Tanenbaum in honour of William Thorsell, Director and CEO of the Museum. The sculpture will be on display in Chen Court beginning the February 2, 2008 until the end of March 2008.
“I am extremely grateful to Joey and Toby Tanenbaum for this dazzling serpentine donation and for their continued support of the Museum,” says the ROM’s Director and CEO, William Thorsell. “The sculpture will be a striking addition to the main entrance of the building, giving visitors the opportunity to interact with one of the Museum’s impressive earth science artifacts.”
Measuring five feet, seven inches tall (170 cm) the beautiful green sculpture is carved from serpentine, a silicate mineral resembling jade. Although serpentine is softer than jade, it can be polished to reveal its beautiful complexities, as shown by this spectacular carved mass from China. Presented on an elaborate wooden stand, visitors can admire the specimen up-close and touch it for good luck. The gold Chinese characters inscribed on one-side reads – Fortune will change with the arrival of [this].
Joey and Toby Tanenbaum are renowned Toronto philanthropists and long-time ROM supporters who have donated this large Serpentine specimen from their private collection to the Museum. The Royal Ontario Museum is grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Tanenbaum for their generous gifts of artifacts to the Museum's collections and for their contributions now and throughout the years.