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Decorative Arts Highlights

Collection Info
Decorative Arts Highlights

Furniture

The New-York Historical Society's furniture holdings number more than 500 objects, including seating furniture, tables, case furniture, cradles, clocks, and boxes ranging from a late 17th-century Dutch kast to a pair of 1960s Bertoia chairs. The earliest acquisition, a chair made for Marie Antoinette's private chambers at Versailles in 1779, was purchased by U.S. Minister to France, Gouverneur Morris.

Highlights of the collection include George Washington's inaugural armchair and Valley Forge camp bed, a rococo carved Philadelphia high chest, ten pieces of furniture used by the first United States Congress at Federal Hall, a lady's cabinet dressing table owned by the Livingston family, the Abeel family French press made by French émigré Charles-Honoré Lannuier, and the desk at which Clement Clarke Moore wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas."

Silver and Jewelry

The New-York Historical Society possesses one of the finest collections of early American silver in the nation, a trove of some 3,000 silver items. Many of these objects, which range from simple spoons to extravagant trophies, were family heirlooms donated by descendants of the original owners. Highlights include the magnificent salver (tray) made by the Swiss-born New York City silversmith Lewis Fueter in 1772 for presentation to British engineer Thomas Sowers, a 381-piece silver dinner service given to Commodore Matthew Perry for negotiating the opening of Japanese ports to United States trade, and the Tiffany & Co. controller handle used by Mayor George McClellan to operate the first New York City subway train on its maiden voyage in 1904.

Ceramics & Glass

The New-York Historical Society’s extensive holdings of ceramics and glass holdings reflect domestic use from the 18th century to the present day. New York stoneware is well-represented, including early examples by Manhattan potters such as Clarkson Crolius, Sr. and Thomas Commeraw. The collection also includes significant holdings of English creamware for the American market, transfer-printed Staffordshire with New York views, and Chinese export porcelain. More recent acquisitions include 20th century tablewares by designer Eva Zeisel. The glass collection includes a wide representation of blown, molded, and pressed glass wares made in the U.S. during the 19th century.

Tiffany Lamps

The New-York Historical Society houses one of the world’s largest collections of Tiffany lamps, acquired as a gift from collector Egon Neustadt in 1984. The 132 lamps include rare examples, such as the Cobweb, and iconic shade models including the Wisteria, Dragonfly, and Magnolia. The lamps are supplemented by working drawings, glass sheets, and tools used to create the famous leaded-glass shades.

Textiles

The New-York Historical Society houses approximately 2,000 textiles, ranging from intricate schoolgirl needlework and sumptuous woven coverlets to printed campaign kerchiefs and patriotic, painted banners. The distinguished collection of flags and banners, numbering some 400 objects, includes flags used in every major conflict with an American presence between the Revolutionary War and World War II. A large collection of printed textiles includes over 100 political kerchiefs documenting presidential campaigns from 1840 to 2008.

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Baby walker
Unidentified maker
1700-1750
INV.14959
Kast
Unidentified maker
1675-1690
1941.914
Armchair
Unidentified maker
1785–1789
1916.7
Settee
Unidentified maker
ca. 1800
INV.14952
Chaise (side chair)
Jacques Gondoin
1779
1817.13
Lady's dressing table
Unidentified maker
1795-1810
INV.14982
French press
Charles-Honoré Lannuier
1812-1819
1943.368
Relic armchair
Unidentified maker
1856-1857
1857.11
Brandywine bowl (brandewijnkom)
Benjamin Wynkoop
ca. 1700
1911.38
Ice cream dish
Edward C. Moore
1877-1878
1980.14
Controller handle
Tiffany & Co.
1904
1922.103
Chatelaine with watch
W. B.
ca. 1761
1954.179a-d
Spouted pitcher
Clarkson Crolius Sr.
1798
1937.587
Landing of General Lafayette at Castle Garden punch bowl
American Pottery Manufacturing Company
ca. 1845
1910.24
Snake jug
Anna Pottery
1871
1906.6ab
Stained glass window
Evert Duyckinck I
ca. 1650
1951.414b
Stained glass window
Evert Duyckinck I
ca. 1656
1951.414c
Footed compote with cover
Brooklyn Glass Works
mid-nineteenth century
1936.693ab
Decanter with stopper
Brooklyn Glass Works
mid-nineteenth century
1936.696ab
Photograph by Colin Cooke
Clara Driscoll
designed ca. 1900-1906
N84.113.1
Wedding dress
Cornelia De Peyster Teller
ca. 1712, with several alterations into the 20th century
1949.115a
Kerchief
Zachary Taylor
ca. 1848
1941.103
Campaign dress
Dwight D. Eisenhower
1952-1956
2002.1.4648
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