Fully
Furnished
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There are many ways to look at furniture from America's past. Designers and makers may have seen it as a way to make money or perhaps as a demonstration of skill. Original owners might have used objects to show off wealth and style. Individuals who first inherited pieces may have thought them too gaudy or unfashionable. Today, owners may see an antique that connects them to America's past. In Fully Furnished, you'll see amazing examples of American furniture dating from 1670 to the present, displayed to encourage you to think of furnishings in a variety of new ways.
Highlights
Court Cupboard, Owned by Hannah Barnard, 1710-1720
Artifact
Court cupboard
Date Made
1710-1720
Summary
This court cupboard is remarkable because it was made for a woman and prominently features her name. It held newlywed Hannah Barnard's precious household belongings -- silver or pewter, ceramics, and linens. In addition to providing storage space, the gloriously decorated cupboard symbolized Hannah's wealth and status and served as a vibrant work of art in her Hadley, Massachusetts, home.
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
36.178.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Court Cupboard, Owned by Hannah Barnard, 1710-1720
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Marshmallow Love Seat, 1956-1965
Artifact
Love seat
Date Made
1956-1965
Place of Creation
Object ID
89.177.59
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Herman Miller, Inc.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Marshmallow Love Seat, 1956-1965
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Portable Writing Desk, Owned by Edgar Allan Poe, 1830-1849
Artifact
Writing desk
Date Made
1830-1849
Summary
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer known for poetry and short stories. His mystery stories were innovative in American literature. Poe led an unsettled life traveling up and down the East Coast of the United States, staying in jobs for short periods of time. For someone who earned his living through writing, a portable desk would have been a valued possession.
Keywords
Object ID
35.825.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Portable Writing Desk, Owned by Edgar Allan Poe, 1830-1849
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Table, Used as a Writing Desk by Mark Twain, 1830-1860
Artifact
Dropleaf table
Date Made
1830-1860
Summary
This table belonged to Mark Twain (1835-1910), American author and humorist whose real name was Samuel L. Clemens. The author wrote at this table during the later years of his life. Twain's daughter Clara gave it to Henry Ford, along with a portrait of her father.
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
36.18.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Clara Clemens Gabrilowitsch.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Table, Used as a Writing Desk by Mark Twain, 1830-1860
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Prototype Eames Fiberglass Chair, circa 1949
Artifact
Armchair
Date Made
circa 1949
Summary
Charles and Ray Eames wanted to design affordable high-quality furniture. To this end, Charles brought a mock-up of a chair to John Wills, a boat builder and fiberglass fabricator, who created two identical prototypes. Charles took one: it became the basis for what would become a modern design icon. This is the other: it lingered in Will's workshop, used over four decades as a utility stool.
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
95.167.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Prototype Eames Fiberglass Chair, circa 1949
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Armchair Made from Longhorn Steer Horns, 1904-1910
Artifact
Armchair
Date Made
1904-1910
Summary
Mr. and Mrs. John Vine saw a display of commercial horn furniture at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. When they returned home to Fayette, Ohio, the inspired couple ordered a large number of steer horns from a packing house in Texas and constructed their own furniture in the trendy style. This armchair was part of the Vines' homemade set.
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
80.80.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Don Bates
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Armchair Made from Longhorn Steer Horns, 1904-1910
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Fully Furnished
Check out extraordinary examples of American furniture dating from 1670 to the present. You'll see them first-hand when you journey through our Fully Furnished exhibit in Henry Ford Museum.
Vanderbilt Chair, 1865-1875
This rocking chair, made of tree roots and branches, was once owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Tete-a-Tete Settee
When propriety dictated that individuals of opposite genders were to be kept separate, this settee permitted a proper conversation.
