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.

Kas

Kas

Maker Unknown Date of Creation 1730–80 Location Westbury or Jericho, New York Materials Cherry, pine Institution Preservation Long Island Credit Line Preservation Long Island purchase Accession Number 1975.7 Photo Credit Preservation Long Island The kas, a large...

Kas
Westbury or Jericho, New York
Preservation Long Island

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Highlighting the Work of Enslaved Artisans

Crib
Ayr Mount, Orange County, North Carolina
Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation

Trunk
Richmond, Virginia
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Silhouette of Gouverneur Morris
Philadelphia, PA
The Preservation Society of Newport County

Well Curb
Newark, NJ
The Newark Museum of Art

Overshot Coverlet Fragment
Troup County, GA
The Columbus Museum

Cornice Plane
Wrentham, Massachusetts
Historic Deerfield

Walking Stick
Livingston County, MO
Speed Art Museum

Nkisi
Newport, RI
Newport Historical Society

Storage Jar
Edgefield district, South Carolina
National Gallery of Art

Jug
Edgefield, South Carolina
International African American Museum

Fireback
York County, South Carolina
Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts

Portrait of William Duguid
Boston, Massachusetts
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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

Weathervane
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Sampler
New York, New York
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

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(markers approximate)