Paintings, furniture, folk art, needlework, toys and costumes represent over 300 years of New England culture. Each object reveals the values of the communities that shaped this region of the early United States and ultimately informs the design and beauty of the things with which we choose to surround ourselves today. From art we can connect the past to the present to understand the material world around us.
Among more than 1,000 portraits is a likeness of Nathaniel Hawthorne that captures the author's inner spirit with a quality and immediacy that practically invites you to engage in conversation. John Singleton Copley's Portrait of Sarah Erving Waldo, in its original hand-carved frame, conveys the artist's ability to convincingly render details, shimmering fabrics and polished fine woods characteristic of the mid 18th century.
Period furniture - desks and bookcases that feature superb craftsmanship, clean lines and elegant form - illuminates all aspects of society, from the elite to the working class. And PEM's shoe collection, one of the largest in the world, reveals attitudes about clothing, sexuality and beauty.
Images
Nuclear Nuts Teapot Variation #13, Yixing Series, 2001
Museum Purchase
Vertical Vase # 5, 1997
Gift of Samuel C. Crocker
Powder Horn, 1764
Bowl: Tropic Array, 2001
Museum Purchase
Sarah Lawrence Brooks, 1890
Sampler, 1807
Gift of Philip T. Andrews, 1977
Tulip Vases, ca. 1850
Museum Purchase, Gretchen Keller Glass Collection
Embroidered Dress, ca. 1880
Gift of David O. Ives, 1976
Lyre Clock, 1838
Museum Purchase
Teapot, "Stamp Act Repeal'd" 1766
Gift of Richard Manning
Portrait of Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1840
Gift of Richard C. Manning
Portable Writing Desk, 1810-1814
Peabody Essex Museum. Gift of Elizabeth Clark and Katherine F. Clark
Portrait with Circle Cloth, 1999
Gift of Merry Glosband, Mr. and Mrs William LaCroix Phippen
Portrait of Jane Shattuck, 1904
Gift of Mrs. George H. Shattuck
Overmantel:Imaginary View, ca. 1800
Estate of Louise Du Pont Crounsheild
Fireboard:View of Court House Square, Salem, 1820
Estate of B. F. Brown
Fireboard:View of Beverly, 1800-1820
Gift of Mary O. Hodges
Fireboard:Comtemplation by the Shore, 1790
Museum Purchase
Salem Common on Training Day, 1808
Museum Purchase
Embroidered Picture, 1800-1810
Gift of the estate of Sarah A. CHever, 1908
Our Safari, 1940-1944
Gift of the estate of Nannie Jenks Borden Phillips, 1963
View of Salem from Gallows Hill, 1818
Museum Purchase
The Gossips
Given in memory of Esther Paine LaCroix and Morris F. LaCroix
Worktable, 1820-21
Museum Purchase
Putnam Family Cupboard, 1680
Gift of Harriet Putnam Fowler
Coffee Service, 1999
Museum Purchase
Cameo Parure, ca. 1820
Museum purchase with funding from the Jane A. and George H. Mifflin
Island Bride, 2002
Museum purchase
Firebucket, Adroit Fire Club, 1830-1840
Gift of James A. Chamberlain
Pomona, Figure of Plenty. 1793
Gift of Anne Valliant Dort in memory of Amy Johnson Brigham
Dwarf Clock, 1790
Museum purchase
Painted Side Chair, 1740-1760; Japanned decoration, 1790-1820
Museum purchase
Mega Megaplanet, 1999
Museum purchase
Quill Basket, 1999
Museum purchase
Creamer, ca. 1850
Boston & Sandwich Glass Company.
