Online Collections Database

Explore our Collections

Historic Costume | Fine and Decorative Arts

Welcome to our Online Collections Database! Below you will find a searchable database showcasing images and information regarding tens of thousands of items in our online collection. Search using search terms, key words, object names, or names of historical figures to locate specific items, or, peruse at random to enjoy the breadth of collections available for view.

As we continue to digitize collections at GCV&M, more objects will populate this new virtual resource. Please continue to check back, and reach out with any questions!

Questions? Contact our Curatorial Department at (585) 294-8240 or email jjohnson@gcv.org. Interested in donating an object to the collections at GCV&M? Click here to learn more. 

Basket

Basket

Object/Artifact

Rectangular basket with rounded edges.

Basket

Basket

Object/Artifact

Basket of splint with woven lid.

Basket

Basket

Object/Artifact

Large gathering basket, square woven base, sides widen and bulge out towards the top, which is a circle of 2 split pieces of wood, whole basket leans noticeably, two square openings have been left in the sides right at the top frame to form handles.

Bass Drum

Bass Drum

Object/Artifact

A bentwood bass drum. The drum is a painted a dark red and features a large eagle carrying a banner in its beak that says "Pembroke Brass Band". There is a shield or coat of arms on its chest with red and white stripes surrounded by a gold floral design. In one talon it carries a branch and in the other arrows. Inside the drum it says "Made and Sold by Calvin Edwards, Gorham". The heads were once stretched animal hide but as these were cracked it was replaced by canvas. This drum was used in the Pembroke Brass Band in Pembroke, Maine.

Bassinet

Bassinet

Object/Artifact

Large woven baby bed. Large splint basket, painted yellow. Sits on wooden frame with turned legs. 1 1/2" wide warp woven with 1/4" wide splint - ash or oak.

Bath Brick

Bath Brick

Object/Artifact

Bath brick used for cleaning. Brick could be scraped to form a scrubbing powder.

Batter Jug

Batter Jug

Object/Artifact

Rockingham glaze batter jug with both a wire bail handle and a molded handle on the body of the jug. Raised, molded decorations of a man on one side smoking a pipe while the woman on other side appears to be weeping.

Beaded Branch

Beaded Branch

Object/Artifact

Indigenous beaded branches. Stem with three offshoots each with three green beaded leaves.

Beaded Flowers

Beaded Flowers

Object/Artifact

Indigenous beaded flowers. Stem with white beaded flower buds and two green beaded leaves.

Bear Trap

Bear Trap

Object/Artifact

One iron bear. Marks: A circle with No.5 in center and "[Kenw]ood N.Y." on inside edge of circle; on outside edge of circle: "S NEWHOUSE." First designed and manufactured by Sewell Newhouse (1806-1888). Newhouse became a member of the Oneida Community about 1848 and continued to make animal traps there. It became a profitable industry of the religious sect and continued after Newhouse's death in 1888.

Beater

Beater

Object/Artifact

Beater with cast iron gears and four wire, double-looped beaters. Wooden handle.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Youth's bed, painted, with arched headboard and four square posts topped with ball finials.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Four turned maple posts, a shaped headboard and foot board with side rails drilled for ropes.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Red paint on scrolled headboard, turned blanket rail, and cannon ball finials. Rails round, and drilled for rope.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Bed with scrolled pine headboard, turned maple posts with flat round finials. Round, pegged rails.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Roped bed. Grain-painted, black and red. Rectangular head and footboards between turned posts.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Sheraton style painted bed with pine head and footboards, maple posts and square, drilled rope rails.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Bed with pine headboard with maple posts and rails. The square chamfered maple legs taper up and down from the rails.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Rope bed. Cut-cornered pine headboard with red stain. Turned maple posts with mushroom-type finials. Square rails with holes for ropes.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Bed with arched head and foot boards with turned posts with mushroom finials. Square rope rails with chamfered edges and turned peg rope supports. Red stain covered.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Bed with turned maple head posts with pointed urn finials. Foot posts with mushroom finials. Rectangular drilled rails.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

A flat top pine head and foot board. Four turned legs with mushroom finials. Square, drilled rope rails. Painted red.

Bed

Bed

Object/Artifact

Low post bed in original red paint. Molded edges on headboard and on side and foot rails. Incising on simply turned posts.

Bed Key

Bed Key

Object/Artifact

Wooden bed key for tightening ropes on a roped bed.

Bed Warmer

Bed Warmer

Object/Artifact

A bed warmer with a sheet iron pan, a brass cover, and a wrought iron handle.

Bed Warmer

Bed Warmer

Object/Artifact

Copper pan with brown painted handle and brass hanging ring. Engraved design on cover includes a long-tailed bird, flowers and leaves.

Bed Warmer

Bed Warmer

Object/Artifact

Rectangular block of gray soapstone. The ends of an iron bail handle are inserted into holes on each side of the stone.

Bed Warmer

Bed Warmer

Object/Artifact

Rectangular block of gray soapstone with shallow holes drilled on each side of the stone that once had a bail handle insert into them.

Bed Warmer

Bed Warmer

Object/Artifact

Bed warmer made of soapstone block with a metal handle.

Bedkey

Bedkey

Object/Artifact

Two-pronged rope bed tightener with ash handle.

Bee Box

Bee Box

Object/Artifact

Round, bentwood box with hinged top and a round opening covered with wire screen. It has as a brass hook to secure the lid. This small box might have been to transport a queen, transport part of a colony of bees, or as a small starter hive or "nuc" (short for nucleus colony).

Bee Smoker

Bee Smoker

Object/Artifact

Tin funnel-shaped smoker on leather bellows.

Beehive

Beehive

Object/Artifact

Dome shaped beehive basket with hewn stick or handle and rows of straw that are secured with wire.

Bell

Bell

Object/Artifact

Bell with cast steel handle and cast iron clapper, the end of which is cross shaped.

Bell

Bell

Object/Artifact

Rolled sheet iron bell with cast knocker and turned wood handle.

Bell

Bell

Object/Artifact

Bell with handle. Handle is lathe turned and tapers from a large rounded end to a more narrow form at the connection to metal bell. It also has turned decorative circles around handle and the handle is capped with a small circular bronze piece on the top. Bronze base is cylindrical by the handle and widens. "8" incised in the top of the handle out to a circle with a decorative edge. Base is attached with a piece of bronze encircling the handle. The iron ringer attached to iron hanger.

Bellows

Bellows

Object/Artifact

Turtle-back bellows with brass tip. Back is green with free-hand, black decorations and gold, orange and bronze stenciled fruit and leaves.

Bellows

Bellows

Object/Artifact

Bellows. Smoke-decorated and yellow painted bellows with free-hand leaf and pear decoration in black, red, green and gold.

Bellows

Bellows

Object/Artifact

Painted green bellows with freehand design of a gold, black and red basket of flowers, etc. Brass tip. Sheraton.

Bellows

Bellows

Object/Artifact

Sheraton style bellow with brass tacks and brass tip. Painted green with orange and gold stencil designs and free-hand black decorations.

Bench

Bench

Object/Artifact

Simple one-shelf water or bucket bench with scrub top and red stained legs (each formed of one board) and front and back apron.

Bench

Bench

Object/Artifact

Shelved bench with overhanging top and cut-out legs. Painted blue-green.

Bench

Bench

Object/Artifact

Sheraton fancy style bench/blanket box. Long bench with short turned legs and a seat that lifts in two sections over two blanket boxes. Scrolled arms and a large turned pillow back, all supported by upright spindles, painted black and decorated with polychrome stencils and stripe work. Front panels are grain painted to simulate oak.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of an orange rose or ranunculus in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of a pink flower in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of a purple flower in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of a pink flower in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of a blue flower in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of a blue and yellow flower in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of a pink rose in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of an orange nasturtium in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of a purple and yellow flower in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of a pink Fuchsia in the center.

Berry Dish

Berry Dish

Object/Artifact

One porcelain berry dish with a molded body and hand-painted, highly realistic floral decoration. The glaze is a very fine white and the hand painting is over the glaze. The rim of the dish is banded with gold and a thin turquoise line. The inside rim of the plate is painted with three small, different types of flowers and a larger sprig of a pink flowers in the center.

Beverage Set

Beverage Set

Object/Artifact

Amber pressed glass in the Sheraton pattern. Includes, serving tray, pitcher, 2 glasses, and bowl.

Beverage Set

Beverage Set

Object/Artifact

Cellarette. Covered box with brass handles. Grained and decorated. Interior divided into 12 sections. 4 wooden casters mounted on 2 wooden strips attached to base. 4 bottles inside. Gilt grape leaf decorations on 2 of the bottles. Bottles are blown with arched shoulders, flaring lips and pontil scars. Name and date painted in interior. "I S Jr" branded on bottom of case. Box fitted for large and small bottles and glasses. Top decorated with smoke work. Sides and front are grain painted red with ochre grained, cut-cornered panels. Interior of cover is putty-painted in green and natural.

Bilge Pump

Bilge Pump

Object/Artifact

Tin bilge pump. Vertical cylinder of lapped tin. Top flares outwards with a wired and rolled lip. Just below top is a cylindrical pipe/spout joined perpendicular to the body of the cylinder. Plunger handle and leather washers are missing.

Bilge Pump

Bilge Pump

Object/Artifact

Bilge pump. Cylindrical vertical tube open at the bottom (1997.10.1a). A second tapered tube is attached to the bottom at a 45 degree angle. A support bar joins the two tubes near the top. A strap handle with wood fill is soldered to the top of the vertical tube. There is a wooden turned plunger with a shaped handle (1991.10.1b). A small tin plate is nailed to the bottom. Lamp wicking nailed around the base of the plunger.

Bill to John McKay

Bill to John McKay

Archive

Bill sent to John McKay (MacKay) from the New-York Central Railroad Company for freight charges for corn.

Bird Feeder

Bird Feeder

Glassware

Clear glass, mold-blown, birdcage feeder. Cylindrical shape with ribs extending from center of base to neck. Bulge above cylindrical part includes a large hole for feeding; open neck. Top lip is rough, sanded pontil mark on bottom.

Birdcage Feeder

Birdcage Feeder

Object/Artifact

Clear glass, mold-blown birdcage feeder. Cylindrical shape with ribs extending from center of base to neck; bulge above cylindrical part includes a large hole for feeding; open neck. Top lip is rough, sanded pontil mark on bottom.

Birdcage Feeder

Birdcage Feeder

Glassware

Birdcage feeder. Clear glass, mold blown. Body is cylindrical and ribbed which widens at center and narrows to applied twisted finial. Fountain has circular hole on side, the bottom lip of the circular opening has been chipped off. Pontil mark broken off.

Birdcage Feeder

Birdcage Feeder

Glassware

Birdcage feeder. Clear glass, mold blown. Body is cylindrical and ribbed which widens at center and narrows to applied twisted finial. Fountain has circular hole on side. Hole in the back middle of the feeder. Broken pontil on bottom.

Birdcage Fountain

Birdcage Fountain

Glassware

Free-blown glass bird fountain. Body is fluted, around the rim is rigaree topped with a glass bulb. The feeder extends away from the body with a rectangular opening.

Birdcage Fountain

Birdcage Fountain

Glassware

Free blown cobalt blue glass birdcage fountain. Clear glass riagree joins the body with a clear glass bulb top. The feeder extends out from the body, its edge is also cobalt with the base of the feeder clear glass.

Birdcage Fountain

Birdcage Fountain

Glassware

Free blown glass birdcage fountain. The body has shallow flutes and the top has a twisted glass detail, topped with a cobalt blue bulb. The feeder extends away from the body in a rectangular shape.

Birdcage Fountain

Birdcage Fountain

Glassware

Bulbous free blown glass birdcage fountain. The glass is speckled with a decorative knob on its top. There is a spout connected to the body. Pontil mark on the bottom.

Birdcage Fountain

Birdcage Fountain

Glassware

Bird-cage fountain. Colorless, blown-molded, with globular body, flattened on one side. Waterer has a projecting rectangular cup, tapering neck with flat button base for chicken finial and rounded sides with alternate fillet-rib and broad plain panel. Plain base with rough pontil mark.

Birdcage Fountain

Birdcage Fountain

Glassware

Colorless, blown-molded birdcage fountain with globular body, flattened on one side having a projecting rectangular cup. Tapering neck with flat button base for chicken finial and rounded sides with alternate fillet-rib and broad plain panel. Plain base with rough pontil mark.

Biscuit Cutter

Biscuit Cutter

Object/Artifact

Round biscuit cutter with rectangular handle with long oval depression in handle.

Blacksmith Apron

Blacksmith Apron

Clothing/Dress/Costume

One blacksmith's apron once owned by John Thomas "JT" Caley, blacksmith for the town of Brighton, New York. Apron is made of thick black leather and has two gromets at the top and leather loops where ties would have gone. In very good condition for its age. Some cracking along the outer edges and some tears in the front "split" of the apron with one piece having come loose but leather is still malleable and supple.

Blacksmith Box

Blacksmith Box

Object/Artifact

Blacksmith box owned by John Thomas (JT) Caley. Box is made of wood with a cast iron handle that curves over the box. Cast iron strips are screwed onto the edges for stability. There is a larger compartment at the bottom and a small compartment divided into four areas at the top.

Blanket

Blanket

Object/Artifact

All wool blanket. Hand spun white, and commercial red wool. Bold red and white plaid. Woven into strips. Copied from an 1840 blanket in Nancy Bogdonoff's "Handwoven Textiles of Early New England".

Blanket

Blanket

Object/Artifact

Woven blanket. Red and blue check on natural ground.

Blanket

Blanket

Object/Artifact

Rust and blue check on white. Woven by GCM weavers.

Blanket

Blanket

Object/Artifact

Blanket. Commercial warp, handspun weft, all natural color, all wool.

Blanket

Blanket

Object/Artifact

Blanket. Commercial warp, handspun weft, all natural color, all wool. Woven by GCM weavers.

Blanket

Blanket

Object/Artifact

One reproduction Shaker diamond point wool blanket with a twill pattern in dark blue and white.

Blanket

Blanket

Object/Artifact

Large indigo and white plaid blanket. Modification of early one in the book "Keep Me Warm One Night". Yarn spun by GCM spinners. Blanket woven by GCM weavers.

Blanket

Blanket

Object/Artifact

2 ply handspun and dyed with indigo. The pattern is Goose-eye twill. Was worked on over a period of 2 years by the GCM weavers. "4 days to wind warp. 3 days to dress loom. 17 days to weave." - Louise Richens (GCV&M weaver).

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

A simple six-board blanket chest or box with remnants of blue paint..

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

Blanket chest. Painted vermillion with black/gilt striping. Gilt floral stenciling with dome top and lined with wallpaper, on top: stenciled "F.C.G."

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

Blanket chest with lift top and tapered legs. Brown with an oval pattern in yellow ochre with green plumes. Yellow stenciled, inlay-like border. Hepplewhite.

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

Six board blanket chest with lift lid and four turned legs with ball feet. Painted red.

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

Blanket chest grained, painted black and red. Lift top with two drawers. Feet cut out of the solid ends. An old brass bat wing-type escutcheon decorates the top of the front. Drawers have molded edges, oval brasses and bat-wing escutcheons.

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

Hepplewhite blanket chest painted with a brown-red finish with darker graining. Lift top with two drawers. Feet cut to look like bracket feet. Shaped front and side skirts. Old brass escutcheons and brasses. Molded-edge drawers.

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

Six board blanket chest with lift top with molded edge. Four of the planks are painted red with free-hand black designs.

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

Blanket chest with hinged lift top, cut out feet and a base molding.

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

Painted blanket chest with hinged and molded cover. Small covered till inside and molded base. Blue-gray paint.

Blanket Chest

Blanket Chest

Object/Artifact

Blanket chest with lift-top box on bracket feet with three small molded edge drawers. Painted red.

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