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.

Pot

Covered cooking pot on three, semicircular feet with a flared lip, bulbous body and forged bail handle looped around triangular lugs or ears.
Description
Covered cooking pot on three, semicircular feet with a flared lip, bulbous body and forged bail handle looped around triangular lugs or ears. Pot is hollow cast with four fillets, one around rim and three around body, the lowest one is a horizontal seam; two vertical seams on upper half, circular sprue mark on bottom exterior and cast-in mark of "CARRON" in raised serif letters on side. Domed cover with oval wire loop handle has two, raised, concentric circles or fillets with eight, five-pointed stars in between; single gate mark on underside.
Maker is Carron Co., founded by John Roebuck, Samuel Garbett, William Cadell in 1759 along the Carron River in Falkirk, Scotland.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1760-1830
late 18th-early 19th century
ID Number
1982.0090.76
accession number
1982.0090
catalog number
1982.0090.76

Teaspoon

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

Worcester porcelain sugar bowl and cover

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c.1775
ID Number
CE.P-851Aab
accession number
225282
catalog number
P-851Aab

pitcher, cream

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 1900
maker
United States Glass Company
ID Number
CE.383817
catalog number
383817
accession number
170852

Teakettle

Onion-form teakettle with crooked gooseneck spout and cast-in arched ears for the mushroom-shaped strap bail handle, rectangular in section; three D-section feet. Low-domed, molded cover with wire loop handle.
Description
Onion-form teakettle with crooked gooseneck spout and cast-in arched ears for the mushroom-shaped strap bail handle, rectangular in section; three D-section feet. Low-domed, molded cover with wire loop handle. Both pieces are hollow cast: cover has gate mark on top; kettle has horizontal and vertical seams on body and spout with a single gate mark on bottom exterior. No additional marks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ca 1770-1780
ID Number
1977.0275.02
catalog number
1977.0275.02
accession number
1977.0275

ladle

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
date made; year pattern introduced
1923 or later
ID Number
DL.66.0575
catalog number
66.0575
accession number
265238

Beaker

Wide-mouth beaker with flared, incised rim and three sets of incised lines around exterior (two above and below three at middle) on an applied, quarter-round molded base with inset flat bottom.
Description
Wide-mouth beaker with flared, incised rim and three sets of incised lines around exterior (two above and below three at middle) on an applied, quarter-round molded base with inset flat bottom. Incuse crowned roman letter "X" quality mark above sawtooth or serrated circle "HW" touchmark of Henry Will at center of incised circle inside bottom.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1761 - 1793
ID Number
1986.0027.52
accession number
1986.0027
catalog number
1986.0027.52

Electric Light Shade

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1915
maker
Macbeth-Evans Glass Company
ID Number
CE.893
catalog number
893
accession number
58571

Worcester porcelain dish

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1792-1804
ID Number
CE.P-820F
catalog number
P-820F
accession number
225282

goblet

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 1888-1889
ID Number
1985.0589.0001
accession number
1985.0589
catalog number
1985.0589.0001

Andiron

Banded-ball-and-multiknopped andiron with baluster pedestal on compressed-ball base atop lapped and spurred cabriole legs ending in creased snake feet on platforms; curved billet bar has a cast brass cover with matching finial and baluster leg at corner and a small ball log stop.
Description
Banded-ball-and-multiknopped andiron with baluster pedestal on compressed-ball base atop lapped and spurred cabriole legs ending in creased snake feet on platforms; curved billet bar has a cast brass cover with matching finial and baluster leg at corner and a small ball log stop. Two-part upright and finial, all parts hollow cast and vertically seamed. Hollow-cast legs are unfinished on back. All parts of upright held together by an internal iron rod threaded at top and peened at bottom. Billet bar cover stamped around log-stop "HUNNEMAN" arched above "BOSTON" in incuse serif letters. One of a pair, 1978.0939.252-.253.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1797 - 1825
ID Number
1978.0939.252
catalog number
1978.0939.252
accession number
1978.0939

Container

Tall, square, lidded box or container painted flat red with the back-slanted serif initials "J.F.S." above three dots, all in blue outlined with white on front; no handle. Two-piece, flat lid has a wire-rolled rim, scrolled hasp lock, and one hinge.
Description
Tall, square, lidded box or container painted flat red with the back-slanted serif initials "J.F.S." above three dots, all in blue outlined with white on front; no handle. Two-piece, flat lid has a wire-rolled rim, scrolled hasp lock, and one hinge. Two-piece box has a flat bottom and a plain top edge with a square bead soldered below on front and sides. Tinned interior. Area above initials with faint black printing "JOHN F. SHE[P]ARD / E[XE]TER, N.H." in italicized, sans serif letters.
Individual needs to be researched. There is a John F. Shepard living in Hampton Falls, NH (same county as Exeter) in the late 19th century who held several patents.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1840 - 1870
ID Number
DL.238049.0077
catalog number
238049.0077
accession number
238049

Spoon

Puritan type rattail spoon with circular bowl and straight handle, flattened hexagonal in section with squared end. Face of bowl below juncture with handle is struck once with touchmark of "HK" in an imperial crown above an undulating sunburst motif.
Description
Puritan type rattail spoon with circular bowl and straight handle, flattened hexagonal in section with squared end. Face of bowl below juncture with handle is struck once with touchmark of "HK" in an imperial crown above an undulating sunburst motif. One of five matching spoons, DL*38840, 3884041, 388048, 388049 and 388050.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
16th-17th century
1660-1710
ID Number
DL.388348
catalog number
388348
accession number
182022

Creamer

Covered, compressed globular cream pot with short, bellied spout and squat, plain, incurved neck topped by a heavy, cast floral rim; four cast paw feet.
Description
Covered, compressed globular cream pot with short, bellied spout and squat, plain, incurved neck topped by a heavy, cast floral rim; four cast paw feet. Body has chased and repousse lobes alternating in width and scrollwork decoration; matching, domed cover with flared edge has cast circular floral knob. Pointed strap handle cast in two parts, both with floral decoration on outside and smooth inside. Cover and pot are gold washed inside. Body open at spout. Bottom underside struck with an incuse serif "R" at center and incised "N\o H" and "Wims(?)" in script. Part of a four-piece coffee and tea service, DL*387944A-D.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1835
ID Number
DL.387944D
catalog number
387944D
accession number
190331

Burner Pad

Circular asbestos “Burner Pad” with aluminum-plated sheet iron backing and outer ring.
Description
Circular asbestos “Burner Pad” with aluminum-plated sheet iron backing and outer ring. White, printed in red: “FOR METAL OR/GLASS UTENSILS/PRO-TEX/BURNER PAD/PREVENTS BREAKAGE OF GLASS/KEEPS FOODS FROM/STICKING OR BURNING/FIREPROOF ASBESTOS/PRINTED IN U.S.A./USE OVER FLAME-THIS SIDE UP”; with image of pots, coffee maker and stove top.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930-1950
ID Number
1992.0208.03
catalog number
1992.0208.03
accession number
1992.0208

Commemorative Plate

"Fall" from a boxed set of four Limited Edition Plates entitled "The SEASONS of AMERICA Past", created by Eric Sloane for International Silver Company; museum proof.
Description
"Fall" from a boxed set of four Limited Edition Plates entitled "The SEASONS of AMERICA Past", created by Eric Sloane for International Silver Company; museum proof. Circular plate has a beaded, flared rim and flat well featuring a landscape with leafless apple tree leaning to right above a wheelbarrow filled with apples in the foreground and a steepled church in the right background; signed at lower right "Eric SLOANE NA". Underside includes title, explanation and significance of scene, and authenticity marks. Foot ring with cast-in hanging hole. From set, DL*322784.0001.-0005.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1976
maker
International Silver Company
ID Number
DL.322784.0004
catalog number
322784.0004
accession number
322784

Meissen porcelain milk pot

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1763 -1774
maker
Meissen Manufactory
ID Number
CE.P-716C
accession number
225282
catalog number
P-716C

Artificial Strawberry

Life-size, matte red strawberry; truncated cone shape with achenes (seeds) adhered to its dimpled top surface. Rough underside.Currently not on view
Description
Life-size, matte red strawberry; truncated cone shape with achenes (seeds) adhered to its dimpled top surface. Rough underside.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1864 - 1865
ID Number
DL.60.0252.09
catalog number
60.0252.09
accession number
67038

Pitcher, "Peace and Independence"

This transfer printed creamware mug is decorated with a military motif on one side and a Masonic motif on the other.
Description
This transfer printed creamware mug is decorated with a military motif on one side and a Masonic motif on the other. The military motif consists of a circular panel that reads “Peace and Independence.” It’s surrounded by a canon, an American eagle with outstretched wings, and an American flag with sixteen stars. The other side depicts several symbols of the Masonic order similar to those shown on a Masonic tracing board. Prominent members of society were often Freemasons, counting founding fathers like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington among their ranks. The elevated social status of Masons means that many masonic themes are found on creamware pitchers of this era.
This pitcher is part of the McCauley collection of American themed transfer print pottery. There is no mark on the pitcher to tell us who made it, but it is characteristic of wares made in large volume for the American market in both Staffordshire and Liverpool between 1790 and 1820. Pitchers of this shape, with a cream colored glaze over a pale earthenware clay, known as Liverpool type, were the most common vessels to feature transfer prints with subjects commemorating events and significant figures in the early decades of United States’ history. Notwithstanding the tense relationship between Britain and America, Liverpool and Staffordshire printers and potters seized the commercial opportunity offered them in the production of transfer printed earthenwares celebrating the heroes, the military victories, and the virtues of the young republic, and frequently all of these things at once.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
CE.63.132
catalog number
63.132
accession number
248619
collector/donor number
45-366

Rule

The Copp family of Stonington, Connecticut owned this wooden ruler during the 18th and 19th century.
Description
The Copp family of Stonington, Connecticut owned this wooden ruler during the 18th and 19th century. Without the measuring lines, rules like these were owned to draw straight lines, necessary for practicing geometry and navigation.
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
ID Number
DL.006502.02
catalog number
6502.02
accession number
28810

Andiron

Louis XIV-style, gilt-bronze andiron or chenet featuring a lion rampant with long, curly mane standing facing the viewer's right atop an S-scrolled platform with a C-scroll reserve at right and a square plinth at left. Constructed of multiple, cast parts screwed together.
Description
Louis XIV-style, gilt-bronze andiron or chenet featuring a lion rampant with long, curly mane standing facing the viewer's right atop an S-scrolled platform with a C-scroll reserve at right and a square plinth at left. Constructed of multiple, cast parts screwed together. Right-angled bracket on reverse fits into slot of separate billet bar, DL*329491C or D. No marks. One of a pair of andirons with billet bars, DL*329491A-D.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
DL.329491B
catalog number
329491B
accession number
87896

Architectural Ornament

Cluster of grapes and two leaves hanging from a ring at top; grapes are finished on both sides with hammer or plainishing marks visible. Made in two parts. No marks.Maker is Keyser Brothers Iron Works, 4041 Ridge Ave. in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, 1928-1971.
Description
Cluster of grapes and two leaves hanging from a ring at top; grapes are finished on both sides with hammer or plainishing marks visible. Made in two parts. No marks.
Maker is Keyser Brothers Iron Works, 4041 Ridge Ave. in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, 1928-1971. Run by James Moore Bryant Keyser (1902-1977) and master blacksmith Howard Keyser III (1904-1980). Specialized in residential and ecclesiastical ornamental wrought ironwork, including the High Altar Gates in the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. The forge was housed in an 1850s stone industrial complex that was dismantled in 1971 (documented by HABS/HAER).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920-1965
ID Number
DL.72.0020
catalog number
72.0020
accession number
299610

dish

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
about 1879
ID Number
CE.75.125L
catalog number
75.125L
accession number
317832

Cup and Saucer

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
CE.62.1001Cab
catalog number
62.1001Cab
accession number
171126

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