Mary VanCortlandt Jay’s Wedding Dress

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Silk Dress Fragment c.1728 Silk, Metallic thread JJ.1962.724 This fine silk fragment was donated to John Jay Homestead by a descendant of John Jay. According to family legend, it is a remnant of the wedding dress worn by Mary Van Cortlandt (John Jay’s mother) on the day she married Peter Jay in 1728.

Mystery Object for April 17

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Be an Object Detective – can you guess what today’s Mystery Object is?    Here are some clues to help you: Looking at this object, can you guess what material it is made of? What shapes do you see when you look at this artifact? What do you think this artifact was used for? Do…

Object of the Day – April 17

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Barrel Organ (Hand Crank) 1810s/1820s Mahogany, brass English, possibly Longman and Broderip JJ.1963.1 This Barrel organ, a type of hand cranked pipe organ, was manufactured in England in the early part of the 19th century.  Designed to entertain, the mahogany case opens in several locations to access different parts of the organ. The top opens…

Mystery Object for April 16

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Be an Object Detective – can you guess what today’s Mystery Object is? Here are some clues to help you: Looking at this object, can you guess what material it is made of? What shapes do you see when you look at this artifact? What do you think this artifact was used for? Do we…

Mystery Object for April 15

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Be an Object Detective – can you guess what today’s Mystery Object is? Here are some clues to help you: Looking at this object, can you guess what material it is made of? What shapes do you see when you look at this artifact? What do you think this artifact was used for? Do we…

Object of the Day – April 15

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Silk Dress Fragment c.1728 Silk, Metallic thread JJ.1962.724 This fine silk fragment was donated to John Jay Homestead by a descendant of John Jay. According to family legend, it is a remnant of the wedding dress worn by Mary Van Cortlandt (John Jay’s mother) on the day she married Peter Jay in 1728. You may…

Mystery Object for April 14

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Be an Object Detective – can you guess what today’s Mystery Object is? Here are some clues to help you: Looking at this object, can you guess what material it is made of? What shapes do you see when you look at this artifact? What do you think this artifact was used for? Do we…

Object of the Day – April 14

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Pair of Candelabra 1810 Bronze, Ormolu JJ.1958.80             The candelabra on the mantle are made from bronze and ormolu, a gold-colored alloy of copper, zinc, and sometimes tin which is cast into desired shapes and often gilded. They are attributed to the famous French bronzier, Claude Galle. These pieces depict symbols traditionally associated with Greek mythology:…

Mystery Object for April 13

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Be an Object Detective – can you guess what today’s Mystery Object is? Here are some clues to help you: Looking at this object, can you guess what material it is made of? What shapes do you see when you look at this artifact? What do you think this artifact was used for? Do we…

Object of the Day – April 13

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Laura Prime’s wedding ring 1831 Gold JJ.1966.300 This gold wedding band was given to Laura Prime Jay (1812-1887), by John Clarkson Jay (1808-1891).  The ring is inscribed, J.C. J. to L.P. Nov. 8, 1831. John Clarkson Jay was the grandson of John Jay. John Clarkson Jay and Laura Prime Jay were married for 56 years…

Object of the Day – April 12

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Editorial by Eleanor Jay Iselin, offering Jay Homestead to U.N. to use as their headquarters Eleanor Jay Iselin February 7, 1946 Paper, Ink JJ.2020.11 In 1946 Eleanor Jay Iselin (1882-1953) wrote this editorial in the New York Herald Tribune offering Bedford House as a potential site for the newly formed United Nations. You may view the Object…

Mystery Object for April 12

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Be an Object Detective – can you guess what today’s Mystery Object is? Here are some clues to help you: Looking at this object, can you guess what material it is made of? What shapes do you see when you look at this artifact? What do you think this artifact was used for? Do we…

Mystery Object for April 11

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Be an Object Detective – can you guess what today’s Mystery Object is? Here are some clues to help you: Looking at this object, can you guess what material it is made of? What shapes do you see when you look at this artifact? This artifact is made up of two pieces, how do you…

Object of the Day – April 11

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John Jay (1745-1829) 1800-1840 Oil on Canvas Artist unknown, after Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) JJ.1999.2   This portrait of John Jay is a copy of Gilbert Stuart’s original painted between 1784 and 1794. In it, Jay is shown with powdered hair, wearing a black coat, breeches and stockings. On the table are several books and he…

Easy Chair

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C. 1815 it is in the New York style, having straight wings and turned mahogany legs, unlike the Queen Anne Style, which had curved wings, cabriole legs and was popular in England. While known as easy chairs in America, they were also known as wing chairs or fireside chairs. The wing back style was first…

Object of the Day – April 10

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Easy Chair c.1815 Mahogany, pine, poplar, ash, pressed wool JJ.2017.42 This easy chair was made around the year 1815. It is in the New York style, having straight wings and turned mahogany legs, unlike the Queen Anne Style, which had curved wings, cabriole legs and was popular in England. The legs of the chair have…

Mystery Object for April 10

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Be an Object Detective – can you guess what today’s Mystery Object is? Here are some clues to help you: Looking at this object, can you guess what material it is made of? What shapes do you see when you look at this artifact? What do you think this artifact was used for? Do we…