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…
Hot Water or Tea Urn c.1790-1810 Sheffield Silver plate, ivory, iron JJ.1958.59 This Sheffield silver plated hot water urn was made in England at the turn of the 19th century. Sheffield plate is layered silver and copper that is fused together in a furnace. This allowed manufacturers to sell household silver products for significantly…
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…
Stick-pin 1794 Brass, pearls, hair JJ.1966.305 This stick pin, or tie pin, contains the hair of George Washington, first President of the United States. The hair is set in piece under glass with the initials “GW”, and is surrounded by seed pearls. The pin is brass. The hair was given to Sarah Jay by Washington…
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…
Minutes of the Agricultural Society of Westchester County June, 1818 Paper, Ink William Jay (Secretary) JJ.2020.416 As the newly appointed Secretary of the local Agricultural society, William Jay kept this notebook of the meeting minutes so there would be record of what was discussed. It has some sentimental value to the Jay family and the…
Be an Object Detective – can you guess what today’s Mystery Object is? Here are some clues to help you: Looking at these objects, can you guess what materials they are made of? What shapes do you see when you look at these artifacts? There are two artifacts here, how do you think they work…
Sinumbra Oil Lamps c.1820 Gilt bronze, spelter, gilt brass French JJ.2017.41 These identical sinumbra lamps were made around the year 1820 and are designed in the French Restoration style. They both have a glass cylinder and rounded, decorated glass shade at their top. The shade is partly frosted, with floral designs intermittent across the…
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…
Tea Set (teapot, creamer, sugar pot) c.1808-1822 Silver, wood JJ.1991.3.1-.3 This silver tea set contained each type of dish one would need for a formal tea time, or social gathering. The hinged-lid Teapot is of course to keep the brewed tea once ready, this one has a wood-insert in the handle, possibly indicating restoration…
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…
This silver tea pot is from a set that also contains a creamer and and a sugar pot. The hallmarks on the bottom of each piece “W.B. Heyer” indicate they were all made by New York Silversmith William Braisted Heyer, who began working in the city in 1798. Our set was donated to the homestead in…
Locket with miniature portrait (Sarah Jay) 1784 Ivory, gold, glass, paint, human hair Attributed to Alexander Roslin JJ.1984.189 This miniature portrait depicts Sarah Livingston Jay (1756-1802), the wife of John Jay. The watercolor on ivory locket is designed to be worn on the wrist with ribbon. The five holes on each side allow the ribbon…
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…
Dining Chairs 1780-1790 Mahogany Maker: Unknown New York JJ.1958.138.1-11, JJ.1982.78 These mahogany dining chairs are made in the early Federal style, which is characterized by geometric forms, straight lines and the use of mahogany wood. The legs of the chairs are chamfered on the inside, meaning they are cut away on a right-angle to…
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…
Bull’s eye Lamp Late 18th century Silver plate; copper; glass English JJ.1969.223 This type of lamp, called a bull’s eye lamp, utilizes convex lenses to focus the light, thus creating a bright, directed beam. The lamp is fueled by whale oil, which was extracted from the blubber of whales. Whale oil was used as a…
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…