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.

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His Excellency Gen Washington

His Excellency Gen Washington

Home > Maps, Prints, and Paintings > His Excellency Gen Washington Maker Charles Willson Peale Date of Creation 1778 Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Materials Ink on laid paper Institution The Society of the Cincinnati Credit Line The Robert Charles Lawrence...

His Excellency Gen Washington
Philadelphia, PA
The Society of the Cincinnati

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Highlighting America in the 1770s

Goblet
Made in England; Recovered in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Historical Society

Standing Desk
Williamsburg, Virginia
Monticello, Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Watch Seal
Probably Williamsburg, Virginia (gold socket) and London (citrine)
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Hot Water Urn
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Bed Rug
Torrington, Connecticut
Yale University Art Gallery

Powder horn
East Tennessee
Tennessee State Museum

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

Teapot
Cain Hoy, South Carolina
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Corner Chair
Eastern Virginia
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Side Chair
Newport, RI
The Preservation Society of Newport County
Tall case clock
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Pickle Stand
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Chairback Settee
Boston, Massachusetts
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Tall Case Clock
Annapolis, Maryland
Collection of Historic Annapolis, Inc.

Kleiderschrank (Clothes Press)
Manheim, Lancaster County
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Chest (Caja)
Rio Abajo Region, New Mexico
Yale University Art Gallery

Cornice Plane
Wrentham, Massachusetts
Historic Deerfield

Knapsack
Possibly Connecticut
Fort Ticonderoga
Punch Bowl
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Museum of the American Revolution

Tomahawk, hammer poll
Eastern Pennsylvania
DAR Museum

Sword
Wilmington, DE
Delaware Historical Society

Waistcoat
Chester County, Pennsylvania
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Wedding Gown
Massachusetts (construction) England or France (textiles)
Historic New England

Medal of Loyal Associated Refugees
Possibly Newport, RI
Yale University Art Gallery

Portrait of William Duguid
Boston, Massachusetts
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Portrait of Dr. William Hunter’s Spaniels
Newport, RI
The Preservation Society of Newport County
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(markers approximate)