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: Connecticut

Valentine Card

This is a Valentine card that belonged to a member of the Copp family of Stonington, Connecticut during the 18th century.
Description
This is a Valentine card that belonged to a member of the Copp family of Stonington, Connecticut during the 18th century. Both sides of the card have rhyming couplets of verse professing love.
Side One: Even so my heart with lovesick pain/Sore wounded is and broken twain/That heart that you do none behold/Will break when you these lines unfold.
Side Two: To say that I falselines have pen’d/No power of envy can pretend/I write the passions of my love/On the outside sweet turtle love.
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
1800 - 1840
ID Number
DL.006857.02
accession number
28810
catalog number
6857.02

A Pillar-and-Scroll Shelf Clock

Eli Terry began to mass-produce his austere but serviceable box clock (See Cat. 317044) in 1816 and immediately proceeded to refine it. The plain box case acquired a pair of slender pillars on the sides, scrollwork on top, and a set of graceful feet.
Description
Eli Terry began to mass-produce his austere but serviceable box clock (See Cat. 317044) in 1816 and immediately proceeded to refine it. The plain box case acquired a pair of slender pillars on the sides, scrollwork on top, and a set of graceful feet. A dial was added, and the lower portion of the glass door was reverse-painted. In the movement, Terry experimented with modifications of the escapement, revised the gear trains, and replaced the rack-and-snail striking mechanism with the more economical count wheel. The result of these efforts, patented in 1823, was another wooden, weight-driven, hour-striking, thirty-hour clock that soon became widely known as the Connecticut pillar-and-scroll clock.
As the design of the clock was perfected, Terry set about organizing its manufacture. Production was underway in 1822. By 1825, Eli Terry, in partnership with his brother Samuel and his sons Eli, Jr., and Henry, was operating three factories, each turning out two to three thousand pillar-and-scroll clocks a year. Originally, Terry's clock cost fourteen dollars, but before long its price dropped to under ten dollars.
Other clockmakers, notably Seth Thomas, soon produced clocks after Terry's design. The output of the new clock industry soon became too large to be absorbed by the local market. Scores of traveling salesmen were dispatched to sell clocks in the rural West and South. "As to the Yankee clocks peddler," reported an English traveler in the 1840s, " in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and here in every dell of Arkansas and in every cabin where there was not a chair to sit on, there was sure to be a Connecticut clock."
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1825-1828
date made
1824-1827
maker
Eli & Samuel Terry
ID Number
1984.0416.033
catalog number
1984.0416.033
accession number
1984.0416

Fork

Tipped pattern fork having four tines and a rounded fiddle handle with ogee shoulders and front midrib. No monograms. Stamped widthwise on back of terminal "MADE / IN / U.S.A. / CPC" in raised sans serif letters.
Description
Tipped pattern fork having four tines and a rounded fiddle handle with ogee shoulders and front midrib. No monograms. Stamped widthwise on back of terminal "MADE / IN / U.S.A. / CPC" in raised sans serif letters. One of four forks, 1986.0531.209-.212, from a 13-piece flatware set, 1986.0531.204-.216 (knives unmarked; forks and spoons marked).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1900 - 1925
maker
Charles Parker Company
ID Number
1986.0531.210
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.0531.210

Knife (Dinner Knife)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1855 - 1866
ID Number
DL.61.0394I
catalog number
61.0394I
accession number
232677

knife, dessert

Dessert knife. Straight steel blade with rounded tip and “yankee” style bolster. Blade and bolster are one piece of steel fitted into a tapered bone handle with rounded sides and butt. Blade is scratched. Blade is scratched, minor discoloration.
Description
Dessert knife. Straight steel blade with rounded tip and “yankee” style bolster. Blade and bolster are one piece of steel fitted into a tapered bone handle with rounded sides and butt. Blade is scratched. Blade is scratched, minor discoloration. Bone is crazed.
Blade is etched: “LANDERS FRARY & CLARK/AETNA WORKS”
Maker is Landers, Frary & Clark, New Britain, Connecticut (c. 1862). In 1890, L. F. & C. took on the Trademark “Universal”, in 1965, General Electric acquired the company.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1865- 1897
maker
Landers, Frary & Clark
ID Number
1986.0531.067
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.531.67

Salt Dish

Open salt shaped as a hemispherical water lily with horizontal, S-scroll stem attached to flat lily pad. Gilt-washed interior. Underside of pad struck with incuse circular mark containing a pointed shield with balanced scales bordered by "x MERIDEN x / B.
Description
Open salt shaped as a hemispherical water lily with horizontal, S-scroll stem attached to flat lily pad. Gilt-washed interior. Underside of pad struck with incuse circular mark containing a pointed shield with balanced scales bordered by "x MERIDEN x / B. COMPANY." in sans serif letters above "31". Black plastic label embossed "459" adhered on bottom underside. One of four, 1984.0424.04-.07.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1873
maker
Meriden Britannia Company
ID Number
1984.0424.05
accession number
1984.0424
catalog number
1984.0424.05

Plate

Single-reeded plate with shallow flat well scored once near booge; no foot ring.
Description
Single-reeded plate with shallow flat well scored once near booge; no foot ring. Underside of well struck twice with touchmark of Ebenezer Southmayd, consisting of a three-masted sailing ship above the raised roman letters "ES"; "Jn Buell" faintly inscribed in script on underside of rim to left of marks.
Maker is Ebenezer Southmayd (1775-1831); working in Middletown, CT, ca. 1797-1802, and Castleton, VT, ca. 1802-1831.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1797 - 1831
ID Number
1986.0027.03
catalog number
1986.0027.03
accession number
1986.0027

Dessert Knife

Straight steel blade with rounded tip. Blade, bolster, and tang are one piece of steel riveted with bone scales to form a tapered handle with rounded sides and butt. Scales are held in place with brass pins.
Description
Straight steel blade with rounded tip. Blade, bolster, and tang are one piece of steel riveted with bone scales to form a tapered handle with rounded sides and butt. Scales are held in place with brass pins. Heavily scratched and stained, bone is crazed, yellowed, and separating from metal. Blade stamped: “MERIDEN CUTLERY/COMPANY”.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1855
ID Number
1986.0531.119
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.531.119

Dish

Circular, shallow, clear cranberry blown glass bowl or dish with pinched rim and white enamel and gilt decoration that rests on a circular tray with fixed oval wire handle and four splayed legs decorated with lilies-of-the-valley or bellflowers.
Description
Circular, shallow, clear cranberry blown glass bowl or dish with pinched rim and white enamel and gilt decoration that rests on a circular tray with fixed oval wire handle and four splayed legs decorated with lilies-of-the-valley or bellflowers. Bowl interior is painted with a child in Victorian dress standing in profile facing right surrounded by clusters of flowers. A cast grasshopper, dragonfly, sunflowers and lilies-of-the-valley are applied the handle sides. Underside of base is struck "MIDDLETOWN PLATE C\o. / QUADRUPLE PLATE" encircling cross-topped scales, "181", and "HARD / WHITE / METAL" also arranged in a circle.
Painted decoration possibly by Mary Alice Gregory (1856-1908), who worked at the Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., Sandwich, MA, in the 1880s.
Basket manufacturer is Middletown Plate Co. of Middletown, CT. Middletown Plate Co. was founded in 1864 and became a subsidiary of International Silver Co. in 1898; International continued to use the Middletown name and mark until at least 1921.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1864-1899
DELETE
ID Number
1994.0145.03
catalog number
1994.0145.03
accession number
1994.0145

Looking Glass

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1750 - 1775
3rd quarter of the 18th century
owner
Putnam, Israel
ID Number
1978.0533.01
accession number
1978.0533
catalog number
1978.0533.01

Fruit Dish

Bail-handled, twelve-lobed, circular dish on a molded circular pedestal base with applied cast decoration of pendant grape clusters alternating with other fruits at the wavy rim and a continuous grapevine covering base; two intertwined grapevines form the crescent-shaped handle.
Description
Bail-handled, twelve-lobed, circular dish on a molded circular pedestal base with applied cast decoration of pendant grape clusters alternating with other fruits at the wavy rim and a continuous grapevine covering base; two intertwined grapevines form the crescent-shaped handle. Circular tag affixed to underside of well at one end is embossed "* ROGERS BROS. MFG CO. * / HARTFORD CONN. (in outer circle)" and "****** / EXTRA / HEAVY / PLATE. / ******* (in inner circle)". Underside of bowl struck incuse "1873."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1853 - 1861
ID Number
DL.60.1064
catalog number
60.1064
accession number
121578

Fruit Stand

Shallow, colorless, pressed glass bowl on a circular stand with slender shaft and low-domed base on four, cast, triangular or wedge-shaped feet, each relief-decorated with a small bird in flight.
Description
Shallow, colorless, pressed glass bowl on a circular stand with slender shaft and low-domed base on four, cast, triangular or wedge-shaped feet, each relief-decorated with a small bird in flight. Plain-rimmed, round-bottom bowl or dish has a smooth interior and a textured exterior with circular projection that fits into circular depression on stand. Underside of stand base is struck incuse "BRIDGEPORT SILVER CO" arranged in a circle around a beehive with iron cross at bottom, "[D]OUBLE PLATE", and "1004".
Maker is Bridgeport Silver Co. of Bridgeport, CT; circa 1880-1884.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880-1884
ID Number
DL.66.0279
catalog number
66.0279
accession number
263347

Dessert Knife

Straight steel blade with rounded tip. Blade and rectangular bolster are one piece of steel with tang fitted into a tapered ivory handle with straight sides and rounded butt. Metal is discolored, minor rust. Ivory is yellowed and separated from bolster.
Description
Straight steel blade with rounded tip. Blade and rectangular bolster are one piece of steel with tang fitted into a tapered ivory handle with straight sides and rounded butt. Metal is discolored, minor rust. Ivory is yellowed and separated from bolster. Long crack in handle from bolster to butt. Blade stamped: “PRATT ROPES WEBB&Co / AMERICAN CUTLERY”. With matching fork, 1986.0531.116.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1846 - 1855
ID Number
1986.0531.115
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.531.115

pouch

Light brown flannel carrying pouch with individual pockets for each knife with set of six dinner knives (1986.531.162-.167). Fabric is discolored, darkened from use and age.Tag sewn onto inside flap is machine embroidered: “1847-Seventy Year Plate-1917 / 1847 ROGERS BROS.
Description
Light brown flannel carrying pouch with individual pockets for each knife with set of six dinner knives (1986.531.162-.167). Fabric is discolored, darkened from use and age.
Tag sewn onto inside flap is machine embroidered: “1847-Seventy Year Plate-1917 / 1847 ROGERS BROS. / SILVERWARE”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1847
ID Number
1986.0531.247
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.0531.247

Coffeepot

Japanned conical coffeepot with a rounded, hinged lid topped by a small loop at front. Tapered D- or ear-shaped strap handle is opposite of the straight, tapered, soft-soldered lapped-seam spout; flat bottom with projecting, folded edge.
Description
Japanned conical coffeepot with a rounded, hinged lid topped by a small loop at front. Tapered D- or ear-shaped strap handle is opposite of the straight, tapered, soft-soldered lapped-seam spout; flat bottom with projecting, folded edge. Wire-rimmed body has an added triangular piece below its vertical folded seam and is perforated at spout. Painted decoration features a red, left-facing, kidney-shaped flower on curved red stem with green leaves; flower is accented by rows of yellow, alizarin and white dots above a fan of white and alizarin overtones, and is surrounded by yellow and green leaflets. Yellow and red brushwork covers lid and borders rim and base. Fine yellow strokes beneath spout. Mottled asphaltum background. No marks.
Attributed to one of the Filley Tinshops, located in Bloomfield, CT, Lansingburgh, NY, and Philadelphia, PA; with decoration painted by Edward Francis (d. 1826), who worked for the Filley family at all three shops.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1820 - 1825
ID Number
1978.0119.08
accession number
1978.0119
catalog number
1978.0119.08

Sugar Bowl

Circular, japanned bowl with a wire-rimmed, flared body having two folded seams that is soft-soldered to a plain-edged, rounded, single-piece foot, and a plain-edged, rounded cover topped by a small, triple-scroll loop.
Description
Circular, japanned bowl with a wire-rimmed, flared body having two folded seams that is soft-soldered to a plain-edged, rounded, single-piece foot, and a plain-edged, rounded cover topped by a small, triple-scroll loop. Painted decoration features a ring of four red circles separated by green chevron strokes and pairs of yellow dots on the cover, and a similar band around the rim of four pairs of red circles, each half-covered with alizarin, separated by opposing green chevron strokes, some with yellow overstrokes. Yellow rick-rack or ribbon borders around edge of cover and foot. No marks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1790 - 1840
ID Number
DL.257491.0086
catalog number
257491.0086
accession number
257491

Box

Green-painted, flat-top box with a tapered and scrolled hasp lock on front and two hinges at back; no handle.
Description
Green-painted, flat-top box with a tapered and scrolled hasp lock on front and two hinges at back; no handle. Lid top has a symmetrical floral design of three white flowers with burnt umber and green overstrokes amidst lobed green leaves and clusters of white buds on green leaflets; all leaves have black veining, the main vein highlighted yellow. Yellow penciling around top and all sides except back; yellow leaflet on the hasp. One-piece lid has a wire-rolled rim. Three-piece box has a top edge folded with a wire bead below and a flat bottom. Golden-brown japanned interior. No marks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1800 - 1840
ID Number
1978.0119.24
accession number
1978.0119
catalog number
1978.0119.24

knife, dinner

Dinner knife. Straight steel blade with slightly pointed, rounded tip and “yankee” style bolster. Blade has slight “S” curve. Blade and bolster are one piece of steel with tang, fitted into celluloid handle with rounded sides and blunt butt.
Description
Dinner knife. Straight steel blade with slightly pointed, rounded tip and “yankee” style bolster. Blade has slight “S” curve. Blade and bolster are one piece of steel with tang, fitted into celluloid handle with rounded sides and blunt butt. Handle has carved molding at top and bottom. Scratched and stained overall, minor rust on blade.
Blade is etched: “UNIVERSAL/L.F.&C.”
Maker is Landers, Frary & Clark, New Britain, Connecticut (c. 1862). In 1890, L. F. & C. took on the Trademark “Universal”, in 1965, General Electric acquired the company.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1912
maker
Landers, Frary & Clark
ID Number
1986.0531.065
accession number
1986.0531
catalog number
1986.0531.065

Tray

"Ultra" pattern oval tray; has a shallow, flat well and wide rim with one, low-relief ear of wheat applied to one long edge; no foot ring. Underside struck with maker's mark, pattern number and tray size.
Description
"Ultra" pattern oval tray; has a shallow, flat well and wide rim with one, low-relief ear of wheat applied to one long edge; no foot ring. Underside struck with maker's mark, pattern number and tray size. From a five-piece coffee and tea service, 1989.0700.07-.11.
Greek-American industrial designer John Vassos (1898-1985) designed the "Ultra" pattern in 1934 for R. Wallace & Sons Mfg. Co. of Wallingford, CT; 1871-present. "Ultra" flatware 1989.0700.01-.06, five-piece coffee and tea service 1989.0700.07-.11, and bowl 1989.0700.12, all belonged to the Vassos family.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1934 or later
year pattern introduced
1934 or later
ID Number
1989.0700.11
catalog number
1989.0700.11
accession number
1989.0700

Cooking Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1895 - 1915
ID Number
DL.306695.0014
catalog number
306695.0014
accession number
306695

Spoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1830
ca 1839
ID Number
DL.60.1120
catalog number
60.1120
accession number
70138

Porringer

Bellied-bowl porringer with angled rim and bossed bottom; cast crown handle with triangular bracket is pierced with 11 voids and struck once on top with "TD&SB" touchmark for Thomas Danforth Boardman and Sherman Boardman across a keyhole-shape shield below a five-pearl (ducal) co
Description
Bellied-bowl porringer with angled rim and bossed bottom; cast crown handle with triangular bracket is pierced with 11 voids and struck once on top with "TD&SB" touchmark for Thomas Danforth Boardman and Sherman Boardman across a keyhole-shape shield below a five-pearl (ducal) coronet with matte ground. Diamond or lozenge linen mark with sink hole from tinker's dam used to burn handle on to bowl. Fine turning marks around upper half of bowl exterior; wide turning marks on underside of boss.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1810 - ca 1840
ID Number
DL.388321
catalog number
388321
accession number
182022

chair, side

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1700 - 1724
user
Copp Family
ID Number
DL.245048.0001
catalog number
245048.0001
accession number
245048

Cake Basket

Bail-handled, boat-shaped oval basket on flared oval pedestal base with overall grapevine decoration, including applied cast clusters of fruit and leaves at rim, four flat-chased and repousse clusters inside bowl, a cast continuous vine around foot, and two intertwined vines form
Description
Bail-handled, boat-shaped oval basket on flared oval pedestal base with overall grapevine decoration, including applied cast clusters of fruit and leaves at rim, four flat-chased and repousse clusters inside bowl, a cast continuous vine around foot, and two intertwined vines forming the U-shaped handle. Struck incuse on bowl underside with semicircular mark of "ROGERS.SMITH & C\o. (arched) / HARTFORD.CONN." in serif letters containing "1864" (overstruck by a line) inside.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1856 - 1862
ID Number
DL.60.1151
catalog number
60.1151
accession number
113420

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