Domestic Furnishings

Washboards, armchairs, lamps, and pots and pans may not seem to be museum pieces. But they are invaluable evidence of how most people lived day to day, last week or three centuries ago. The Museum's collections of domestic furnishings comprise more than 40,000 artifacts from American households. Large and small, they include four houses, roughly 800 pieces of furniture, fireplace equipment, spinning wheels, ceramics and glass, family portraits, and much more.

The Arthur and Edna Greenwood Collection contains more than 2,000 objects from New England households from colonial times to mid-1800s. From kitchens of the past, the collections hold some 3,300 artifacts, ranging from refrigerators to spatulas. The lighting devices alone number roughly 3,000 lamps, candleholders, and lanterns.

Single-reeded circular dish with flat well incised at perimeter; no foot ring.
Description
Single-reeded circular dish with flat well incised at perimeter; no foot ring. Underside struck twice with faint rose-and-crown touchmark for Henry Will (only part of crown visible) above pseudo hallmarks, only two of four visible: Britannia or Columbia seated and a leopard's head, both in clipped-corner rectangles; a sword or elongated cross shape stamped in small chevrons is between them.
Maker is Henry Will (circa 1735-1802), working in New York, NY, 1761-1775 and 1783-1793; and Albany, NY, 1775-1783 (fled there at the outset of the Revolution). His father John Will (1696-1774) , who emigrated from Neuwied, Germany and worked in New York, 1752-1774, as well as his brothers Philip (also worked in New York City and Philadelphia, 1763-1787), and William (worked in Philadelphia, 1764-1798), were also pewterers. Henry Will stopped using the rose-and-crown touch upon moving back to New York City after the Revolution.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1756 - 1783
1761 - 1783
ID Number
1986.0027.11
catalog number
1986.0027.11
accession number
1986.0027
Colored print of a view of Boston with Boston Common in the foreground and the bay in the background. Houses, churches, warehouses and industrial buildings are depicted. The bay is filled with sailing ships.
Description (Brief)
Colored print of a view of Boston with Boston Common in the foreground and the bay in the background. Houses, churches, warehouses and industrial buildings are depicted. The bay is filled with sailing ships.
Date made
1850
maker
Bachmann, John
Sarony & Major
ID Number
DL.60.3745
catalog number
60.3745
Black and white print; bust portrait of a man (Henry Inman). Facsimile of sitter's signature is below the image.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print; bust portrait of a man (Henry Inman). Facsimile of sitter's signature is below the image.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
depicted
Inman, Henry
maker
Prevost, Victor
Nagel, Louis
original artist
Lazarus
ID Number
DL.60.3127
catalog number
60.3127
accession number
228146
Color print of two steamboats (the "Diana" and the "Baltic") travelling at full speed with smoke pouring from their double stacks. Other steamboats are in the background and a flatboat with several men is in the right foreground.
Description (Brief)
Color print of two steamboats (the "Diana" and the "Baltic") travelling at full speed with smoke pouring from their double stacks. Other steamboats are in the background and a flatboat with several men is in the right foreground.
Date made
1859
maker
Fuller, George F.
Weingartner, Adam
ID Number
DL.60.3292
catalog number
60.3292
Color print of a whaling scene. Huge whale in the foreground is being harpooned by a whaler while five others steady the boat. In the background is a whale boat that is being capsized by a whale and three whaling vessels.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene. Huge whale in the foreground is being harpooned by a whaler while five others steady the boat. In the background is a whale boat that is being capsized by a whale and three whaling vessels.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1862
copyright holder; publisher
Charles Taber & Co.
maker
Endicott and Company
original artist
Gifford, Robert Swain
Beest, Albert Van
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3249
catalog number
60.3249
Color print of a whaling scene. Two whale boats, each with four oarsman, a steersman, and a spearman, chase a whale in the foreground. Other chases take place in the background. Three whaling vessels in full sail are in the distance.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene. Two whale boats, each with four oarsman, a steersman, and a spearman, chase a whale in the foreground. Other chases take place in the background. Three whaling vessels in full sail are in the distance.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1859
publisher; copyright holder
Charles Taber & Co.
maker
Endicott and Company
original artist
Beest, Albert Van
Gifford, Robert Swain
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3248
catalog number
60.3248
Color print of a whaling scene; one large whaling vessel in foreground and one in the background are anchored awaiting men in smaller boats who are attacking whales.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene; one large whaling vessel in foreground and one in the background are anchored awaiting men in smaller boats who are attacking whales.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
maker
Baillie, James S.
ID Number
DL.60.3255
catalog number
60.3255
Color print depicting a varied group of individuals along the banks of a river performing tasks related to gold mining; digging, sifting, washing, etc.
Description (Brief)
Color print depicting a varied group of individuals along the banks of a river performing tasks related to gold mining; digging, sifting, washing, etc.
Date made
n.d.
distributor
Ensign, Thayer and Company
maker
Kelloggs & Comstock
ID Number
DL.60.3829
catalog number
60.3829
Large, shallow, circular skimmer attached with three rivets to a slender, cylindrical, downturned handle flattened into a flared and pointed end with pierced hole.
Description
Large, shallow, circular skimmer attached with three rivets to a slender, cylindrical, downturned handle flattened into a flared and pointed end with pierced hole. Bowl is perforated with small holes arranged into a circle around the center rivet with eight straight radiating arms and groups of four holes between them; turning marks visible on front and back of bowl. Front of handle struck incuse above hanging hole "W.BARTON" in roman letters.
Skimmer 1978.0939.006 and ladle 1978.0939.011 appear to be a pair. Both were possibly made by William Barton (1762-1849), who established foundries for making horse and sleigh bells in East Hampton, CT, in 1808, and in Cairo, NY, in 1826.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1800 - 1830
ID Number
1978.0939.006
accession number
1978.0939
catalog number
1978.0939.006
Color print of a country estate with a river and sailboats in the background. Two gardeners are working on the lawn and in the left foreground is a man sitting on a bench with a dog at his feet.
Description (Brief)
Color print of a country estate with a river and sailboats in the background. Two gardeners are working on the lawn and in the left foreground is a man sitting on a bench with a dog at his feet. Sunnyside, waspurchased and renovated by Washington Irving.in 1835 and was his residence until his death in 1859. The home was purchased in 1947 by John D. Rocefeller and opened to the public. It is a National Historic Landmark.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
maker
Currier & Ives
ID Number
DL.60.3235
catalog number
60.3235
Color print of a whaling scene; two large whalers are anchored amid floating ice. Men are attacking whales from smaller boats and ice. Seals?, walrus, narwhal, are on the ice.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene; two large whalers are anchored amid floating ice. Men are attacking whales from smaller boats and ice. Seals?, walrus, narwhal, are on the ice.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
maker
Baillie, James S.
Clay, Edward Williams
ID Number
DL.60.3254
catalog number
60.3254
The Remmey and Crolius families dominated the New York stoneware industry from the early 1700s through the early 1800s. Both families emigrated from Germany, bringing with them the stoneware traditions of their homeland.
Description
The Remmey and Crolius families dominated the New York stoneware industry from the early 1700s through the early 1800s. Both families emigrated from Germany, bringing with them the stoneware traditions of their homeland. Sometimes business associates, the two families also inter-married. Remmey family members went on to establish stoneware factories in Philadelphia and Baltimore, as well.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1795-1830
maker
Remmey III, John
ID Number
1980.0614.363
accession number
1980.0614
catalog number
1980.0614.363
Multiknopped and faceted andiron on spurred, inward-scrolling legs, each ending in a pair of cup feet; cast brass billet bar cover on stepped front of bar. Two-part upright, each part cast hollow in halves and seamed vertically.
Description
Multiknopped and faceted andiron on spurred, inward-scrolling legs, each ending in a pair of cup feet; cast brass billet bar cover on stepped front of bar. Two-part upright, each part cast hollow in halves and seamed vertically. All parts held together by an internal iron rod threaded at top and peened at bottom. No marks. One of a pair, CE/DL*63.1025A-B.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1825-1850
ID Number
DL.63.1025B
catalog number
63.1025B
accession number
246530
This overshot, indigo and white coverlet (now separated into two panels) is woven in the "Catalpa Flower" pattern. Overshot patterning is based on a float weave structure, where a supplementary weft yarn is added to create the pattern.
Description
This overshot, indigo and white coverlet (now separated into two panels) is woven in the "Catalpa Flower" pattern. Overshot patterning is based on a float weave structure, where a supplementary weft yarn is added to create the pattern. The yarn floats or shoots over the top of the plain weave ground cloth creating the pattern. The pattern is a reversible negative, meaning that the color combination is reversed on the opposite side. Overshot coverlets can be woven on simple four-shaft looms. They are usually associated with domestic production and many of them are attributed to female weavers. Professional male weavers also wove floatwork coverlets. Many overshot patterns have names; however, these names changed and varied due to time and location. According to the donor, this coverlet descended through the Van Meter family of New York and was likely woven in the first half of the nineteenth century by a female ancestor. The two coverlet panels would have been joined with a center seam. These panels were repurposed during the early 20th century Colonial Revival decorating period and used as portieres in the Van Meter home. Each of the two panels measures 75 inches by 35.25 inches.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
19th century
date made
1800-1850
maker
unknown
ID Number
TE.T14960A
catalog number
T14960.00S
T14960.A-S
accession number
286274
catalog number
T14960-B/S
Circular salt with a molded rim, gilt-washed hemispherical bowl, and four cast legs with quadruple-padded knees and triple-padded feet. Underside of rounded bottom struck "TIFFANY, YOUNG & ELLIS" and "J.C.M.", both in incuse serif letters placed above and below centerpoint.
Description
Circular salt with a molded rim, gilt-washed hemispherical bowl, and four cast legs with quadruple-padded knees and triple-padded feet. Underside of rounded bottom struck "TIFFANY, YOUNG & ELLIS" and "J.C.M.", both in incuse serif letters placed above and below centerpoint. One of two salts, DL*300503A-B.
Made by the John C. Moore Co. for Tiffany, Young & Ellis, both of New York, NY, 1848-1852.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1848-1852
ID Number
DL.300503B
catalog number
300503B
accession number
61510
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date designed
1954
date made
c.1954
date produced
ca. 1960
designer
Kogan, Belle
maker
Gailstyn Company
ID Number
1992.0257.11D
catalog number
1992.0257.11D
accession number
1992.0257
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
about 1879
ID Number
CE.75.125J
catalog number
75.125J
accession number
317832
Oblong, bulbous teapot with an oval, high-domed, hinged lid topped by a lion's mask knop and four ball-and-claw feet attached to the rounded bottom by large acanthus leaves; engraved "EL" in conjoined foliate script on one side.
Description
Oblong, bulbous teapot with an oval, high-domed, hinged lid topped by a lion's mask knop and four ball-and-claw feet attached to the rounded bottom by large acanthus leaves; engraved "EL" in conjoined foliate script on one side. Seamed body has convex and concave bands below its flared top. Bracket-top, C curve handle with swelled grip is pinned into ivory insulators and cylindrical sockets. Seamed S curve spout has a D-shaped, flared lip. Underside of bottom is struck at center "HUTTON" in raised serif letters in a rectangle flanked by standing spreadwing eagles facing right with heads turned left in horizontal ovals.
Maker is Isaac Hutton (1766-1855) of Albany, NY; working, 1790-1817.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1815
ID Number
DL.383532
catalog number
383532
accession number
162866
Raised bulbous or bellied cann or mug with flared rim incised around exterior, rounded bottom, and cast stepped circular foot. Hollow, double C-scroll handle has a scrolled acanthus leaf on top and a split scroll lower terminal; flared conical struts.
Description
Raised bulbous or bellied cann or mug with flared rim incised around exterior, rounded bottom, and cast stepped circular foot. Hollow, double C-scroll handle has a scrolled acanthus leaf on top and a split scroll lower terminal; flared conical struts. Bottom underside struck once, possibly over centerpoint, "IGL" in raised serif letters in a rectangle. Portion of an old, red-bordered white paper collection label adhered below mark.
Style of cann suggests maker is Jacob Gerritse Lansing II (1736/7-1803) of Albany, NY (working, circa 1755-1774 or later), rather than his grandfather Jacob Gerritse I (1681-1767).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1760-1770
ID Number
DL.383539
catalog number
383539
accession number
162866
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date produced
c.1950
date made
c.1950s
designer
Kogan, Belle
maker
Hull
ID Number
1992.0257.13.ab
accession number
1992.0257
catalog number
1992.0257.13ab
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
CE.75.130BC
catalog number
75.130BC
accession number
317832
Four-piece stacking tea service, consisting of a plain, low-domed lid with mushroom knop, a cylindrical sugar bowl with loop strap handle, a matching creamer, and a squat, globular teapot with hollow C-shaped handle and S-curve spout with split lip.
Description
Four-piece stacking tea service, consisting of a plain, low-domed lid with mushroom knop, a cylindrical sugar bowl with loop strap handle, a matching creamer, and a squat, globular teapot with hollow C-shaped handle and S-curve spout with split lip. Teapot body perforated at spout. Sugar bowl, creamer and teapot each banded with five grooves. Bottom underside of teapot struck incuse with maker's mark and pattern number; other pieces are unmarked.
Maker is Bernard Rice's Sons of New York, NY; in business, circa 1897-1950.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1928-1929
ID Number
1990.0339.14
catalog number
1990.0339.14
accession number
1990.0339
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1846
ca 1840 - 1846
ID Number
DL.64.0514A
catalog number
64.0514A
accession number
251849
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950 - 1959
1950 - 1959
date produced
ca. 1950
associated dates
1992 06 02 / 1992 06 02
designer
Kogan, Belle
maker
Kogan, Belle
ID Number
1992.0257.12.ab
accession number
1992.0257
catalog number
1992.0257.12ab

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