The Decorative Arts Trust commemorates the United States Semiquincentennial with a celebration of 250 historic objects from across the country.

We invite you to explore this online collection of meaningful and impactful objects that represent independence, identity, and community. Although this resource is by no means comprehensive, we hope you enjoy exploring how objects can tell the story of America and encourage you to explore material culture collections online and in person at the wealth of institutions located throughout our nation.

Dressing Table

Dressing Table

Home > Furniture and Clocks > Dressing Table Maker Benjamin Baker (American, 1734–1822) Date of Creation 1764 Location Newport, Rhode Island Materials Mahogany, chestnut Institution The Preservation Society of Newport County Credit Line Purchased by The...

Dressing Table
Newport, RI
The Preservation Society of Newport County

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What’s Cooking? Highlighting Food Preparation and Storage.

Jar
Rock Mills, Alabama
Birmingham Museum of Art

Storage Vessel
Edgefield District, South Carolina
Greenville County Museum of Art

Sugar Pot
Alamance County, North Carolina
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Storage Jar
Edgefield district, South Carolina
National Gallery of Art

Cooking Pot
Unknown (Used in Philadelphia, PA)
National Park Service, Independence National Historical Park
Storage Jar
Made in Mexico, Imported to New Mexico
New Mexico History Museum
Sugar Pot
Alamance County, NC
Old Salem Museums & Gardens/ MESDA
Pickle Stand
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Museum of Art
One Handled Pot
Atascosa, Texas
San Antonio Museum of Art

Jar
Used in Newport, RI
The Preservation Society of Newport County

Cookie Mold
Salem, NC
Old Salem Museums & Gardens/ MESDA
Poffertjes Pan
Used at Mount Vernon, Virginia
George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Sauce Ladle
Providence, RI
Glessner House

Coal Cookstove
Port Chester, New York
Merchant’s House Museum

Stove
Newark, Licking County, OH
The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art, and Technology

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(markers approximate)