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.

Date: 1830s

Creamer

Raised circular cream pitcher with double-bellied lower body engraved "SML" in flecked foliate script on a domed and stepped circular pedestal base. Incurved neck flares to a deeply curved rim with wide pouring lip and die-rolled band of scrolling leaves on exterior.
Description
Raised circular cream pitcher with double-bellied lower body engraved "SML" in flecked foliate script on a domed and stepped circular pedestal base. Incurved neck flares to a deeply curved rim with wide pouring lip and die-rolled band of scrolling leaves on exterior. Cast convex rims of pairs of cornucopias springing from shells at shoulder and top of pedestal; die-rolled band of matching decoration at base. Hollow S-curve handle sprouts from waterleaf volutes. Underside of rounded bottom struck above centerpunch "N.J.BOGERT" in raised roman letters in a rectangle. From a four-piece coffee and tea service, 1985.0962.1-.4.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1830
maker
Bogert, Nicholas J.
ID Number
1985.0962.3
accession number
1985.0962
catalog number
1985.0962.3

Pitcher

Large, baluster-shaped pitcher on domed foot with bulbous body seamed near middle and tall, raised incurved neck flaring to a curved rim with wide pouring lip; cast gadrooning applied at rim and ribbing at foot.
Description
Large, baluster-shaped pitcher on domed foot with bulbous body seamed near middle and tall, raised incurved neck flaring to a curved rim with wide pouring lip; cast gadrooning applied at rim and ribbing at foot. Armorial engraving on one side of body consists of the coronet of a Spanish marquess above a quartered coat of arms on an oval escutcheon. Cast, hollow, double C-curve handle with acanthus upper terminal and engraved acanthus below. Underside of rounded bottom is struck twice with two marks around centerpunch: "H.I.PEPPER" in raised serif letters in a rectangle stamped on opposite sides facing inwards, and "PHILAD\A" in raised serif letters in a serrated rectangle on the other two sides facing inward; "53/1" scratched below one of the maker's marks. Part of set, DL*59.2201A-B.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1830
ID Number
DL.59.2201B
catalog number
59.2201B
accession number
70138

Snipe

Colored print of a snipe (bird) with grassy plains in the background.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Colored print of a snipe (bird) with grassy plains in the background.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1832
maker
Clonney, James Goodwyn
Mesier's Lith
ID Number
DL.60.2701
catalog number
60.2701
accession number
228146

knife, dinner

Dinner knife. Straight silver-plated steel blade with rounded tip and squared “yankee” style bolster. Blade and bolster are one piece of metal with tang fitted into an ivory handle with rounded corners and butt. Metal is heavily scratched and stained, plate is worn.
Description
Dinner knife. Straight silver-plated steel blade with rounded tip and squared “yankee” style bolster. Blade and bolster are one piece of metal with tang fitted into an ivory handle with rounded corners and butt. Metal is heavily scratched and stained, plate is worn. Ivory is yellowed and scratched, has long crack down one side.
Blade is etched: “1834/J. RUSSELL & CO./12”
Maker is John Russell & Company, Turner Falls, Massachusetts, 1834-present.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1834
ID Number
1986.0531.147
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.531.147

Fürstenberg porcelain tray (part of a service)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c.1820
1825-1830
ID Number
CE.P-519A
catalog number
P-519A
accession number
225282

Roasting Jack Model

Part of a patent model (U.S. Patent No. 8,173X) of a roasting jack, made by Ezra Whitman of Winthrop, ME, and patented on April 28, 1834.
Description
Part of a patent model (U.S. Patent No. 8,173X) of a roasting jack, made by Ezra Whitman of Winthrop, ME, and patented on April 28, 1834. No marks on object, but a darkened paper tag tied with a red or purple (faded) wove ribbon is printed and handwritten (in ink) with the patent information for the "Roasting-Jack". Based on the patent drawing, several parts are missing from this model.
Patentee is believed to be Ezra Whitman, Jr. (b. 1812), son of clockmaker Ezra Whitman (1769-1851) and brother of Luther Whitman (b. 1802) who founded Whitman Agricultural Works in Winthrop, ME, where this roasting jack was probably produced.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1834
patent date
1834-04-28
ID Number
DL.251419
catalog number
251419
accession number
48890

Mary Copp Silhouette

Cut and pasted silhouette of Mary Copp (b.
Description
Cut and pasted silhouette of Mary Copp (b. 1777) is marked on the back with "Cut with scissors By MASTER HUBARD without drawing or cutting machine.” Master Hubard was William James Hubard, a popular British artist who did silhouettes of the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria before immigrating to the United States.
The Copp Collection contains a variety of household objects that the Copp family of Connecticut used from around 1700 until the mid-1800s. Part of the Puritan Great Migration from England to Boston, the family eventually made their home in New London County, Connecticut, where their textiles, clothes, utensils, ceramics, books, bibles, and letters provide a vivid picture of daily life. More of the collection from the Division of Home and Community Life can be viewed by searching accession number 28810.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1824-1830
maker
Hubard, William James
ID Number
DL.006859
catalog number
6859
accession number
28810

Teaspoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1815
1830 or later
ID Number
1977.0918.58D
accession number
1977.0918
catalog number
1977.0918.58D

Tea Canister

Oblong octagonal, japanned canister or caddy with circular opening, painted with pink roses on its sides. Friction-fit cover, container and collar have soft-soldered lapped seams; flat cover top, slightly-rounded shoulders and flat bottom have folded edges.
Description
Oblong octagonal, japanned canister or caddy with circular opening, painted with pink roses on its sides. Friction-fit cover, container and collar have soft-soldered lapped seams; flat cover top, slightly-rounded shoulders and flat bottom have folded edges. No marks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1810 - 1830
ID Number
DL.257491.0011
catalog number
257491.0011
accession number
257491

Andiron

Knife-blade andiron with a brass multiknopped finial and applied, beaded-edge plinth block on rounded, arched legs ending in penny feet. Finial is cast hollow in two halves and peened on top of upright, which is tenoned through the legs.
Description
Knife-blade andiron with a brass multiknopped finial and applied, beaded-edge plinth block on rounded, arched legs ending in penny feet. Finial is cast hollow in two halves and peened on top of upright, which is tenoned through the legs. Billet bar tenoned into plinth of upright. No marks. One of a pair, DL*388201A-B.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1815-1830
ID Number
DL.388201A
catalog number
388201A
accession number
182022

Pot

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1820 - 1830
ID Number
DL.64.0109
catalog number
64.0109
accession number
251851

Teaspoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1815
1830 or later
ID Number
1977.0918.58K
catalog number
1977.0918.58K
accession number
1977.0918

Andiron

Knife-blade andiron with a brass multiknopped finial and applied, beaded-edge plinth block on rounded, arched legs ending in penny feet. Finial is cast hollow in two halves and peened on top of upright, which is tenoned through the legs.
Description
Knife-blade andiron with a brass multiknopped finial and applied, beaded-edge plinth block on rounded, arched legs ending in penny feet. Finial is cast hollow in two halves and peened on top of upright, which is tenoned through the legs. Billet bar tenoned into plinth of upright. No marks. One of a pair, DL*388201A-B.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1815-1830
ID Number
DL.388201B
catalog number
388201B
accession number
182022

Sauceboat

This sauceboat features a transfer print of the Boston State House building and is part of J&W Ridgway's "Beauties of America" series, a blue transfer decorated dinner service decorated with views of American buildings and a border of roses on the vine, superimposed on regularly
Description
This sauceboat features a transfer print of the Boston State House building and is part of J&W Ridgway's "Beauties of America" series, a blue transfer decorated dinner service decorated with views of American buildings and a border of roses on the vine, superimposed on regularly formed, lighter blue leaves
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1814-1830
maker
J & W Ridgway
ID Number
CE.62.909J
catalog number
62.909J
accession number
171126

Box

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 19th century
1820 - 1830
ID Number
DL.59.2247
catalog number
59.2247
accession number
220211

Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1839
1839 - 1851
retailer
Ball, Tompkins & Black
ID Number
DL.60.1114
catalog number
60.1114
accession number
70138

Teaspoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1815
1830 or later
ID Number
1977.0918.58G
accession number
1977.0918
catalog number
1977.0918.58G

Furstenberg porcelain sugar bowl and cover (part of a service)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1825-1830
ID Number
CE.P-519Dab
catalog number
P-519Dab
accession number
225282

Sugar Bowl

Two-handled, covered, compressed globular bowl with squat, plain, incurved neck topped by a heavy, cast floral rim on four cast paw feet.
Description
Two-handled, covered, compressed globular bowl with squat, plain, incurved neck topped by a heavy, cast floral rim on four cast paw feet. Body has chased and repousse lobes alternating in width and scrollwork decoration; matching, domed cover with flared edge has a cast circular floral knob. Pointed strap handles cast in two parts, both with floral decoration on outside and smooth inside. Bowl and cover have gold washed interiors. Bottom underside struck with an incuse serif "R" at center and incised "FF" in script (covered by accession number). Part of a four-piece coffee and tea service, DL*387944A-D.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1835
ID Number
DL.387944C
catalog number
387944C
accession number
190331

Pint Measure

Haystack measure; pint size. Conical or ovoid body with molded neck, midbody, and base bands; circular, everted rim with flared and beaded lip.
Description
Haystack measure; pint size. Conical or ovoid body with molded neck, midbody, and base bands; circular, everted rim with flared and beaded lip. Tapered, D- or ear-shaped handle has an arched and tongued thumbrest; upper scrolled terminal with stepped oval attachment below neck; flat lower terminal attached at midband. Body is stamped on front "1 PINT" in incuse serif letters, with the letters "JK" scratched to left of handle. Four verification marks on rim interior, including a crowned Hibernian harp between "VR" over "563". Touchmark of Joseph Austen & Son and a crowned "X" in a clipped-corner rectangle on bottom outside.
Maker is Joseph Austen & Son, Cork, Ireland; circa 1823-1846 (previous working dates, circa 1828-1833).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1828-1833
ca 1823-1846
ID Number
DL.67.0186
catalog number
67.0186
accession number
250853

Teapot

Raised circular teapot with double-bellied lower body engraved "SML" in flecked foliate script on a domed and stepped circular pedestal base. Flattened bulbous upper body and hinged lid, which is topped by a cast spherical cluster of fruits and flowers.
Description
Raised circular teapot with double-bellied lower body engraved "SML" in flecked foliate script on a domed and stepped circular pedestal base. Flattened bulbous upper body and hinged lid, which is topped by a cast spherical cluster of fruits and flowers. Cast convex rims of pairs of cornucopias springing from shells at shoulder and top of pedestal; die-rolled bands of matching decoration at opening and base. Hollow S-curve handle sprouts from waterleaf volutes and is pinned into ivory insulators. S-curve spout has a scrolled waterleaf on top and anthemion on belly. Body perforated at spout. Underside of rounded bottom struck above centerpunch "N.J.BOGERT" in raised roman letters in a rectangle. From a four-piece coffee and tea service, 1985.0962.1-.4.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1830
maker
Bogert, Nicholas J.
ID Number
1985.0962.2
accession number
1985.0962
catalog number
1985.962.2

Beam Balance

Equal-arm beam balance with a circular pivot center hook, piercework pointer, and flat, slightly swelled and tapered arms terminating in smaller circular pivots with hanging holes.
Description
Equal-arm beam balance with a circular pivot center hook, piercework pointer, and flat, slightly swelled and tapered arms terminating in smaller circular pivots with hanging holes. Both arms struck on both sides with "J.M.DOW" at left and "N.YORK" at right, all in raised roman letters in rectangles. Beam only; no stand, hooks or pans.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1830
ID Number
1978.0939.034
accession number
1978.0939
catalog number
1978.0939.034

hook

Wrought iron hook. Twisted throughout, hook at one end with loop for hanging at top of shaft. No mark. Rusted.Currently not on view
Description
Wrought iron hook. Twisted throughout, hook at one end with loop for hanging at top of shaft. No mark. Rusted.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 18th-early 19th century
ID Number
DL.388219
catalog number
388219
accession number
182022

Furstenberg porcelain coffeepot and cover (part of a service)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c.1820
1825-1830
ID Number
CE.P-519Cab
catalog number
P-519Cab
accession number
225282

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