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The Smithsonian Collection by Kichler Lighting

Kichler Partners with Smithsonian Institution to Introduce New Lighting Collection
Kichler’s Smithsonian Collection Debuts After Unprecedented Access to Museum Archives

CLEVELAND—April 5, 2007— Kichler Lighting is proud to announce a partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and the debut of a new lighting collection inspired by museum holdings. The lighting collection, known as the Smithsonian® Collection by Kichler Lighting, debuted at the recent Dallas International Lighting Market and offers more than 60 historically inspired fixtures.

At the center of the partnership was unprecedented access to the Smithsonian archives, dozens of hours with museum curators and months spent reviewing historical keepsakes. Visiting both the Washington, D.C. museums and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City, Kichler designers and executives spent several days alongside Smithsonian experts discovering rarely seen collection items in museums, archives, and libraries. Inspired by these treasured holdings, Kichler built the nucleus for its Smithsonian Collection, offering three prestigious lighting families, each revealing a history all their own while appealing to today’s styles.

"Walking through the Smithsonian museum is an experience like no other, but seeing pieces that remain off exhibit and in preservation holding, and reconfiguring them in a way that we can all use and admire today, that’s a rare gift," said Jeff Dross, a Kichler product manager. "Consumers are still interested in stories of yesterday, and many homeowners continue to gravitate toward designs that are large in scale and rich in detail. Those influences are at the core of our Smithsonian offerings."

Renwick™ - The architect of New York City’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral and several other well-known structures, James Renwick Jr. was also the designer behind the Smithsonian’s red sandstone building, now popularly known as "The Castle." Today housing administrative offices and a reception center, in its early days, the Romanesque revival structure was home to all Smithsonian operations and served as living quarters for the Smithsonian secretary.

It was also the first of the Smithsonian buildings to add lighting. Today, just four pieces of glass from the 34 original fixtures remain – two used in oversized torchieres in the building’s main hall, and two stored in museum archives. Those pieces served as the inspiration for Kichler’s Renwick collection, a complete lighting family incorporating antique satin-etched glass shades similar to the glass from the original fixtures. Rich, elegant detailing is found throughout and complemented by either a burnished antique brass or oiled bronze finish.

Joseph Henry™ - This collection bares the name of the first of the Institution’s 11 secretaries, Joseph Henry. Kichler’s Joseph Henry Collection is modeled after a dazzling piece of Victorian-era glass found in the Smithsonian Castle Collection. Light, umber etched antique glass globes in a flower shape are complemented by rich casting detail, curved arms, and oiled bronze and antique pewter finishes. A complete lighting family, this collection includes a grande, three-tier, 44" chandelier, perfect for the most grandiose of rooms.

Titus™ - Until 1870, the U.S. patent office required models be submitted with each patent application. When samples were no longer required, the patent office turned over more than 4,000 models to the Smithsonian Institution – among them a model from William D. Titus of Brooklyn, N.Y., for his version of a three-sided, wind-proof lantern.

That lantern model served as the inspiration for Kichler’s outdoor Titus family, a collection of unique, three-sided wall-mount, post-mount, hanging and flush-mount pieces that incorporate a faux candle at their center. Offering the first three-sided lanterns in the industry, the Titus family is completed with clear seedy glass and a distressed solid brass finish.

For interview information or electronic images, please contact Gina Gretchko at 216.912.2850 or ggretchko@landaupr.com or Alicia Gauer at 216.912.2846 or agauer@landaupr.com.

About Kichler Lighting - Founded in 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio, Kichler is a world leader in decorative lighting designs. Its products include chandeliers, wall sconces, kitchen and bath lighting, and outdoor lanterns, as well as under-cabinet lighting, landscape lighting, and portable lamps and accessories. Its 3,000 designs are sold under the Kichler ® and Kichler Lamps and Accessories® brands.

About The Smithsonian Institution - The Smithsonian Institution, founded in 1846, is the world’s largest museum complex and research organization composed of 17 museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and 2 museums in New York City. The Smithsonian collections are the basis for research, exhibitions and public programs in the arts, history and the sciences. The collections contain 137 million objects, works of art and specimens. In 2006, approximately 23 million people visited Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo; there were nearly 150 million visits to www.smithsonian.org .

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