Domestic Furnishings

Tiffany Floor Lamp

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.

Place: Massachusetts

hook, latch

Wrought iron hasp or hook latch. Flattened shaft with oblong opening at bottom to allow for staple to protrude, circular opening at top, and attached J-shaped latch to hook into staple. No mark. Rusted.Currently not on view
Description
Wrought iron hasp or hook latch. Flattened shaft with oblong opening at bottom to allow for staple to protrude, circular opening at top, and attached J-shaped latch to hook into staple. No mark. Rusted.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 1800-1860
ID Number
DL.388997
catalog number
388997
accession number
182022

Fearnaught Stallions

A color print of two chestnut horses (Lancet and Fearnaught Boy) with light manes pulling a cutter on a country road. They are joined by a T-shaped tongue, and their harnesses are light and handsome.
Description
A color print of two chestnut horses (Lancet and Fearnaught Boy) with light manes pulling a cutter on a country road. They are joined by a T-shaped tongue, and their harnesses are light and handsome. The driver is wearing a black coat with lapels, gloves, a boat-shaped hat, and a beaver rug over his knees. He is probably their owner David Nevins, Jr. A split rail fence borders the road. Mountains are in the distance, and the landscape is covered with snow.
Lancet and Fearnaught Boy were owned by David Nevins Jr. of Framingham, Massachusetts.
Haskell and Allen’s most memorable productions were their horse prints. A Boston based publisher of lithographs, the firm seems to have issued more large folio images than small. Haskell began as a print seller with Haskell and Ripley (1868) but in 1869 he began a partnership with George Allen. In 1873 they moved to 61 Hanover St in Boston where they prospered for a few years. They went bankrupt in 1878.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1875
maker
Haskell & Allen
artist
Eaton, L. G.
original artist
Leighton, Scott
ID Number
DL.60.3555
catalog number
60.3555

Foot Warmer

Perforated tin box with drawn-wire bail handle hooked through loops on top; one side is a wire-rimmed hinged door with bent wire pull. Box top has three bands of punched circles, while sides feature an 8-segment circle with semicircles at the corners. No marks.
Description
Perforated tin box with drawn-wire bail handle hooked through loops on top; one side is a wire-rimmed hinged door with bent wire pull. Box top has three bands of punched circles, while sides feature an 8-segment circle with semicircles at the corners. No marks. No brazier or pan for heat source.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1820 - 1850
ID Number
DL.392937
catalog number
392937
accession number
206516

Souvenir Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1891 - 1897
ID Number
DL.288746.0003
catalog number
288746.0003
accession number
288746

knife, dinner

Dinner knife. Straight steel blade with slightly-narrowed and rounded tip. Blade and partial tang are one piece of steel fitted into wooden block handle with straight sides, rounded edges, and blunt butt. Tang is held in place with iron pins.
Description
Dinner knife. Straight steel blade with slightly-narrowed and rounded tip. Blade and partial tang are one piece of steel fitted into wooden block handle with straight sides, rounded edges, and blunt butt. Tang is held in place with iron pins. Heavily discolored and stained, wood is separating from tang.
Blade is stamped: “L & G MFG CO/CAST STEEL”
Maker is Lamson & Goodnow Company, a manufacturer and wholesaler active in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts 1844-present.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1860- 1880
maker
Lamson & Goodnow
ID Number
1986.0531.171
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.0531.171

Spoon

Large, misshapen, elongated oval spoon with an asymmetrical ruffled shell cast on back of bowl. Turned and incised wood handle is fitted into the conical shaft, which has two shallow rings around its top.
Description
Large, misshapen, elongated oval spoon with an asymmetrical ruffled shell cast on back of bowl. Turned and incised wood handle is fitted into the conical shaft, which has two shallow rings around its top. Lower half of a torn paper label affixed inside bowl is inscribed "[Ger]man spoon" in script. No marks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1750-1850
ID Number
DL.309674.0002
catalog number
309674.0002
accession number
309674

Salver

Small, flat square tray with indented corners and raised, conforming, coved edge on four cast scroll feet.
Description
Small, flat square tray with indented corners and raised, conforming, coved edge on four cast scroll feet. Engraved at obverse center is an armorial device consisting of a coat of arms Argent, three eagles with wings displayed elevated on bend gules, surmounted by a closed helmet and crest of an eagle with wings displayed elevated, all surrounded by a fishscale pattern edged with leafy scrolls. Obverse struck near edge below armorial device "IHURD" in raised slanted roman letters in a curvilinear surround.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1754
ID Number
DL.383527
catalog number
383527
accession number
162866

Tankard

Tankard with a raised stepped-and-domed lid topped by a cast spiral or flame finial and straight tapered sides with applied moldings around rim, midbody and base. Cast S-curve scroll thumbpiece with anthemion on reverse attaches to five-knuckle hinge with pendant drop.
Description
Tankard with a raised stepped-and-domed lid topped by a cast spiral or flame finial and straight tapered sides with applied moldings around rim, midbody and base. Cast S-curve scroll thumbpiece with anthemion on reverse attaches to five-knuckle hinge with pendant drop. Hollow, D-section, S-curve handle is engraved on face "CS" in conjoined foliate script letters and has a scrolled tab terminal with circular attachment. Struck once on rim exterior to left of handle and on bottom underside "W.BURT" in raised serif letters in a rounded-corner rectangle. Bottom underside incised "HISMSH." above mark; old red-bordered white paper collection label. No centerpoint.
Maker is William Burt (1726-1751) of Boston, MA; son of John Burt (1692/3-1746) and brother of Samuel (1724-1754) and Benjamin (1729-1805), all silversmiths.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1745-1750
ID Number
DL.383483
catalog number
383483
accession number
162866

Boston Common

Color print of a tree-lined path in a park (Boston Common) with pedestrians strolling and people seated on benches. An iron fence lines a bank on the left side with a large building visible on the other side of the fence.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a tree-lined path in a park (Boston Common) with pedestrians strolling and people seated on benches. An iron fence lines a bank on the left side with a large building visible on the other side of the fence.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
maker
Haskell & Allen
ID Number
DL.60.3686
catalog number
60.3686

Andiron

Ball-and-spear or "steeple-top" andiron with hexagonal pedestal on circular base atop spurred cabriole legs ending in creased snake feet on platforms; brass strip on top of billet bar extends to matching log-stop (missing).
Description
Ball-and-spear or "steeple-top" andiron with hexagonal pedestal on circular base atop spurred cabriole legs ending in creased snake feet on platforms; brass strip on top of billet bar extends to matching log-stop (missing). Two-part upright, both parts hollow cast and vertically seamed . Hollow-cast legs are unfinished on back. All parts held together by an internal iron rod threaded at top and peened at bottom. Brass strip stamped incuse at end behind log-stop "J. DAVIS / BOSTON" in serif letters. One of a pair, 1978.0939.250-.251.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1803 - 1828
ID Number
1978.0939.251
catalog number
1978.0939.251
accession number
1978.0939

Dessert knife

Dessert knife, one of a set of six (1988.763.4-9). Straight steel blade with rounded tip and “yankee” style bolster fitted into tapered ivory handle with rounded sides and butt. Tang is held in place with steel pin through side of handle.
Description
Dessert knife, one of a set of six (1988.763.4-9). Straight steel blade with rounded tip and “yankee” style bolster fitted into tapered ivory handle with rounded sides and butt. Tang is held in place with steel pin through side of handle. Blade is scratched and abraded, with minor corrosion and rust. Ivory is yellowed, small crack near pin. Steel pin through handle is rusted.
Blade is stamped: “CLEMENT HAWKES /& MAYNARD”; worn away, difficult to read.
Maker is the Clement Hawkes & Maynard Manufacturing Company, founded in 1866 in Northampton, Massachusetts. The company was reorganized circa 1882 as the Clement Cutlery Company.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1866- 1882
ID Number
1988.0763.04
accession number
1988.0763
catalog number
1988.0763.04

Creamer

Rectangular U-shape creamer with convex band around its upper body on a conforming footring with four ball feet; gold washed interior. Deep cyma-curved rim with wide pouring lip has die-rolled gadrooning applied on exterior.
Description
Rectangular U-shape creamer with convex band around its upper body on a conforming footring with four ball feet; gold washed interior. Deep cyma-curved rim with wide pouring lip has die-rolled gadrooning applied on exterior. Right-angled C-curve tapered strap handle attaches at middle of neck and top of footring. Struck once on neck outside at center of one side "HOMES." in italic roman letters in a rectangle. No centerpunch. No other marks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1810 - 1815
ID Number
DL.383524
catalog number
383524
accession number
162866

knife, dinner

Dinner knife. Steel blade with slightly upturned false edge and rounded tip. Blade and “yankee” style bolster are one piece of steel fitted into a tapered black hard rubber handle with rounded sides and butt.
Description
Dinner knife. Steel blade with slightly upturned false edge and rounded tip. Blade and “yankee” style bolster are one piece of steel fitted into a tapered black hard rubber handle with rounded sides and butt. Metal is scratched, has minor rust.
Blade is etched: “RUSSELL/GREEN RIVER WORKS.”; with arrow through the “R”
Maker is John Russell & Company, Turner Falls, Massachusetts, 1834-present.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1900- 1941
ID Number
1986.0531.221
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.0531.221

Foot Warmer

Rectangular, slat-top, wooden frame foot warmer or stove with opposed double-baluster supports that holds a perforated tin box with wire-rimmed, hinged door; a square brazier or pan for holding heat source, made of a single cut and folded piece with bent front rim for handling, i
Description
Rectangular, slat-top, wooden frame foot warmer or stove with opposed double-baluster supports that holds a perforated tin box with wire-rimmed, hinged door; a square brazier or pan for holding heat source, made of a single cut and folded piece with bent front rim for handling, is inside. Box top has three bands of punched circles, while sides feature one large hole at center enclosed by a heart in a circle. Drawn-wire bail handle hooked through loops on frame top; brass wire pull on box. Doweled through-tenon joints. No marks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1820 - 1850
ID Number
DL.392936
catalog number
392936
accession number
206516

Paul Revere Silver Sugar Tongs

This object is a sugar tong bearing the mark of Paul Revere’s silver shop. It is in bow form with tapering arms and acorn-shaped hollow tips.
Description
This object is a sugar tong bearing the mark of Paul Revere’s silver shop. It is in bow form with tapering arms and acorn-shaped hollow tips. Wriggle work lines are etched into the outside border of the arms and bow, a cross-hatch pattern enclosing dots is on the cap of the acorn-shaped tips and wriggle work and a bright-cut eclipse enclosing an engraved crest is on the bow.
Paul Revere Jr. trained with his father, Paul Revere Sr., in the silversmith trade. After his father’s death in 1754, the shop passed over to Revere Jr. It was a large and active shop where all manner of items were made or repaired. Revere also ran a very diverse business providing various services as well importing goods from overseas. In the post-war period, he greatly expanded his business services and brought his son into the business with him.
date made
1792
maker
Revere, Paul
ID Number
DL.60.2211
catalog number
60.2211
accession number
131186

chair, side

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
DL.388004
catalog number
388004
accession number
182022

footstool

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
mid 19th century
ID Number
DL.60.1644B
catalog number
60.1644B
accession number
63663

Carved Whimsey

Three "ball-in-cage" design featuring a long, rectangular prism with three, equal-size, open-sided compartments or cages, each containing a loose ball; shperical knobs at ends. Whittled or carved from a single piece of wood. No marks.Currently not on view
Description
Three "ball-in-cage" design featuring a long, rectangular prism with three, equal-size, open-sided compartments or cages, each containing a loose ball; shperical knobs at ends. Whittled or carved from a single piece of wood. No marks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850 - 1900
ID Number
DL.388607
catalog number
388607
accession number
182022

Glue and Water Heater Patent Model

Patent model (U.S. Patent No. 44,294) of a kerosene or oil-burning glue and water heater, made by Joseph Edgecomb of Worcester, MA, and patented on September 20, 1864.
Description
Patent model (U.S. Patent No. 44,294) of a kerosene or oil-burning glue and water heater, made by Joseph Edgecomb of Worcester, MA, and patented on September 20, 1864. Consists of a removable circular reservoir with flange that rests on a conical reflector supported on three pins or extensions fitted into sockets supported by circular handles on the low-domed circular fount. Three circular windows near bottom of reflector. Missing burner and glass chimney. No marks on object, but tags with purple and red wove ribbon tied to reservoir and lamp handle are printed and handwritten with patent information and object numbers.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1864-09-20
patent date
1864-09-20
inventor
Edgecomb, Joseph
ID Number
DL.251424
catalog number
251424
accession number
48890
patent number
44,294
accession number
48890

Creamer

Octagonal or panel-sided, urn-shaped cream pot with spurred S-scroll handle; missing pedestal base. Conforming rim and pouring spout. Maker's mark partially visible on underside of body.
Description
Octagonal or panel-sided, urn-shaped cream pot with spurred S-scroll handle; missing pedestal base. Conforming rim and pouring spout. Maker's mark partially visible on underside of body. From a sugar bowl and creamer set, DL*311709 and DL*311714.
Maker is Leonard, Reed & Barton of Taunton, MA. Founded by Gustavus Leonard, Henry F. Reed and Charles E. Barton as successor to Taunton Britannia Manufacturing Company in 1835; became Reed & Barton in 1840. Marked panel-sided coffee- and teapots matching sugar bowl DL*311709 and creamer DL*311714 are known.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1835-1840
ID Number
DL.311714
catalog number
311714
accession number
64443

Child's Spoon

Engraved "Lily" pattern child's spoon having an ovoid bowl and upturned, flared and rounded handle bright cut on front with a right-curving raceme of lily-of-the-valley above three leaves, quatrefoil-in-circle motif and pendant line of paired leaves.
Description
Engraved "Lily" pattern child's spoon having an ovoid bowl and upturned, flared and rounded handle bright cut on front with a right-curving raceme of lily-of-the-valley above three leaves, quatrefoil-in-circle motif and pendant line of paired leaves. Engraved "Charlie." in script lengthwise on terminal back. Back of handle struck "TOWLE.MF'G.CO" and "6oz." in incuse serif letters. From a three-piece child's or youth's flatware set (knife, fork, spoon), 1979.0003.01-.03.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1888 - 1890
ID Number
1979.0003.03
accession number
1979.0003
catalog number
1979.0003.03

Name Boss

Circular name boss from an arched clock dial plate, cast and engraved across its slightly domed front "Made.By / Rich : Manning / In:Ipswich / 1751" inside a band border with wavy line.
Description
Circular name boss from an arched clock dial plate, cast and engraved across its slightly domed front "Made.By / Rich : Manning / In:Ipswich / 1751" inside a band border with wavy line. Pierced post or shank with two wire hooks is brazed at center of reverse.
Made by clockmaker Richard Manning (b. c. 1701-1774) of Ipswich, MA.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1751
ID Number
DL.388668
catalog number
388668
accession number
182022

Model D-12 Electric Toaster

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1912- 1913
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
1992.0338.31
accession number
1992.0338
catalog number
1992.0338.31

Creamer

Circular urn-shape cream pitcher with tall, incurved neck flaring to a curved rim with wide pouring lip on a flared, circular pedestal with stepped, domed foot; engraved in script on body opposite handle "Mrs. Joanna L. Howard / From a Friend / Oct.
Description
Circular urn-shape cream pitcher with tall, incurved neck flaring to a curved rim with wide pouring lip on a flared, circular pedestal with stepped, domed foot; engraved in script on body opposite handle "Mrs. Joanna L. Howard / From a Friend / Oct. 27\th 1858." Greek key band at shoulder and beading at rim, shoulder, top of pedestal and edge of foot. Sprigged and tapered S-curve handle with band around lower end. Gold washed interior. No marks.
Part of a six-piece coffee and tea service, 2013.0193.01-.06, given to Joanna Louise (Turpin) Howard (1825-1872) of Boston. The Howards were among several socially prominent free black families living in the city's affluent West End in the 1850s. Although the reasons for this splendid gift from a mystery “Friend” are unknown, Mrs. Howard and her husband, Edward Frederick Howard (1813-1893), were active in the antislavery movement and fought to end segregation of Massachusetts public schools in 1855. Their two daughters, Adeline (b. 1845) and Joan Imogene (b. 1850), became distinguished educators, while their son, Edwin Clarence (1846-1912), was the first African-American graduate of Harvard Medical School.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1858
presentation date
1858-10-27
referenced
Howard, Joanna Louise Turpin
ID Number
2013.0193.06
catalog number
2013.0193.06
accession number
2013.0193

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