Historic New England

Fish knife

Silver fish knife. Handle has molded edges and hexagonal and scrolled design. Top of blade curved; tip pointed.

Date: 1840-1870

Maker: unknown

Material: coin silver, silver (metal)

GUSN: 24676

Accession Number: 1998.5526

Teaspoon

Silver teaspoon w/ twisted handle. Handle twisted at center, rounded at tip.

Date: 1840-1860

Maker: New England Nickel Silver Co. (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24677

Accession Number: 1998.5528

Teaspoon

Silver teaspoon w/ fluted shell-shaped bowl and sunflower and urn design at center of handle, on both sides.

Date: 1840-1930

Maker: Reed & Barton (Maker)

Material: shell (animal material), silver (metal)

GUSN: 24678

Accession Number: 1998.5529

Sugar tongs

One pair of silver sugar tongs with claw talons. Fleur-de-lis design above talons. Smooth handles with rounded tip.

Date: 1840-1890

Maker: Reed & Barton (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24679

Accession Number: 1998.5533.1

Sugar tongs

One in pair of silver sugar tongs w/ claw talons. Fleur-de-lis design above talons. Smooth handles w/ rounded tip.

Date: 1840-1890

Maker: Reed & Barton (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24680

Accession Number: 1998.5533.2

Spoon

Part of incomplete flatware set, a fork and a spoon. Molded band around edges; forms a scalloped design at handle tip. Design on reverse, too.

Date: 1847-1869

Maker: Bigelow, Brothers & Kennard (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24681

Accession Number: 1998.5534.1

Fork

Part of incomplete flatware set, a fork and a spoon. Molded band around edges; forms a scalloped design at handle tip. Design on reverse, too.

Date: 1847-1869

Maker: Bigelow, Brothers & Kennard (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24682

Accession Number: 1998.5534.2

Teaspoon

One of 5 matching silver teaspoons w/ decorative handles w/ a hammered band that loops at top to form medallion at tip. Band of tiny incised lines around hammered band. Tip of handle bends back.

Date: 1860-1869

Maker: Possibly Palmer & Bachelders (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24683

Accession Number: 1998.5535.1

Teaspoon

One of 5 matching silver teaspoons w/ decorative handles w/ a hammered band that loops at top to form medallion at tip. Band of tiny incised lines around hammered band. Tip of handle bends back.

Date: 1860-1869

Maker: Possibly Palmer & Bachelders (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24684

Accession Number: 1998.5535.2

Teaspoon

One of 5 matching silver teaspoons w/ decorative handles w/ a hammered band that loops at top to form medallion at tip. Band of tiny incised lines around hammered band. Tip of handle bends back.

Date: 1860-1869

Maker: Possibly Palmer & Bachelders (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24685

Accession Number: 1998.5535.3

Teaspoon

One of 5 matching silver teaspoons w/ decorative handles w/ a hammered band that loops at top to form medallion at tip. Band of tiny incised lines around hammered band. Tip of handle bends back.

Date: 1860-1869

Maker: Possibly Palmer & Bachelders (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24686

Accession Number: 1998.5535.4

Teaspoon

One of 5 matching silver teaspoons w/ decorative handles w/ a hammered band that loops at top to form medallion at tip. Band of tiny incised lines around hammered band. Tip of handle bends back.

Date: 1860-1869

Maker: Possibly Palmer & Bachelders (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24687

Accession Number: 1998.5535.5

Serving spoon

Silver serving spoon w/ beaded molding around handle edges.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24688

Accession Number: 1998.5536

Teaspoon

Four matching silver teaspoons. Handle edges are curved, widest at tip. Tip is rounded and has small scallop decoration.

Date: 1860-1869

Maker: Shreve, Stanwood & Co. (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24689

Accession Number: 1998.5537

Teaspoon

One of two silver teaspoons w/ handles tapered at bottom and wider at top w/ square sides and rounded tip.

Date: 1780-1820

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24690

Accession Number: 1998.5538.1

Teaspoon

One of two silver teaspoons w/ handles tapered at bottom and wider at top w/ square sides and rounded tip.

Date: 1780-1820

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24691

Accession Number: 1998.5538.2

Ladle

Small silver ladle. Oval bowl and slender handle that flares at tip. Small scalloped decoration on rounded tip.

Date: 1800-1820

Maker: Possibly Merrill, J. A. (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24692

Accession Number: 1998.5539

Ladle

Small silver ladle. A tiny oval bowl and a slender handle that widens at tip. Small scalloped motif at tip.

Date: 1830-1850

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24693

Accession Number: 1998.5540

Ladle

Small silver ladle w/ a round bowl and leaf and oval decoration on handle, both sides. Raised band around handle edge.

Date: 1850-1855

Maker: McKay, Spear & Brown (Maker)

Material: coin silver, silver (metal)

GUSN: 24694

Accession Number: 1998.5541

Gravy ladle

Silver gravy spoon w/ engraved initials on smooth rounded tip.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24695

Accession Number: 1998.5542

Tablespoon

Silver tablespoon w/ a beaded strip on lower 1/2 of handle and Gothic foliage on smoothed and pointed handle tip. Foliage on both sides of handle.

Date: 1840-1860

Maker: Possibly Hayden & Whilden (Maker)

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 24696

Accession Number: 1998.5543

Trammel hook

S-shaped hook of flat rectangular iron.

Date: 1750-1800

Maker: unknown

Material: iron (metal), wrought

GUSN: 25247

Accession Number: 1985.351

Trammel hook

Square C-shaped hook w/ rounded rod connecting to flat square tapered hook w/ fireholes and C-shaped end hook.

Date: 1750-1800

Maker: unknown

Material: iron (metal), wrought

GUSN: 25248

Accession Number: 1985.352

Trammel hook

Flat, squared C-shaped hook below rounded rod ending at "L". Flat squared portion has 8 holes and end at L-shaped connection and C-shaped hook.

Date: 1750-1800

Maker: unknown

Material: iron (metal), wrought

GUSN: 25249

Accession Number: 1985.353

Trammel hook

S-shaped hook w/ flat rectangular sides.

Date: 1750-1800

Maker: unknown

Material: iron (metal), wrought

GUSN: 25250

Accession Number: 1985.354

Rifle-Musket

Hardwood stock with metal barrel. Stamped in various places near trigger, "Springfield 1862", "U.S.", "CB", "AB", "EB/2".

Date: 1862

Maker: U.S. Armory (Maker)

Material: wrought iron (iron alloy), walnut (wood), steel (alloy)

GUSN: 25251

Accession Number: 1985.355

Four plain splayed peg legs which support plain rectangular base and shaft. Rectangular, red-stained gear box has measuring dial incised, and punch decorated numbering: "0,10,20,30." Date "1836" stamped at side. Wheel has six turned spokes w/ wooden fingers for turning it. Married at a later date.

Date: 1836

Maker: unknown

Material: pine (wood), wood (plant material)

GUSN: 25252

Accession Number: 1985.356

Basket

Circular form w/ slightly curved canted sides. Varying width ribs and narrow weavers. Bottom has raised woven center. Single bound wrapped rim w/ two small wrapped handles woven around rim.

Date: 1790-1840

Maker: unknown

Material: splints (lighting devices)

GUSN: 25253

Accession Number: 1985.611

Portrait of Henry Somerby

Half-length portrait of Henry Somerby in full wig and brown robes against brown background. Polychrome, oil on canvas. Ornate molded frame painted black. Very likely Lt. Col. Henry Somerby (1662-1723).

Date: 1690-1730

Maker: unknown

Material: oil paint (paint), canvas

GUSN: 25254

Accession Number: 1929.1504

Portrait of Timothy Dexter

Cartoon-like drawing of Timothy Dexter. Polychrome pen and watercolor of man in military uniform mounted on red horse with black tail, brandishing red sword. Ink inscription at bottom reads, "Lord Timothy Dexter/ Newburyport/ 1799". Plain rectangular frame with applied split baluster forms and squar...

Date: 1799

Maker: unknown

Material: paper (fiber product)

GUSN: 25255

Accession Number: 1923.608

Photographic print

Brownstone genealogy photograph featuring copies of portraits of 8 English ancestors of Coffin family, behind glass. Lightly molded oak frame. Inscribed on back, "Gift of Mrs. A. Merriam/ 2 of Oct. 1930." 1: Richard Coffin, Sheriff 1699 2: Elizabeth, widow of Richard 1571 3: Dorothy, 1st wife of ...

Date: ca. 1875

Maker: unknown

Material: paper (fiber product)

GUSN: 25256

Accession Number: 1930.1649

Portrait of Joshua Coffin

Half-length portrait of Joshua Coffin (1792-1864). White-haired gentleman in black coat and white shirt in heavy, molded and gilded frame. Attached plaque reads: "1792--Joshua Coffin--1864/ Teacher-Humanitarian-Historian/ Whittier's Schoolmaster/ The last male of seven generations/ Born-lived-died i...

Date: 1930-1935

Maker: Williamson, Ada C. (Maker) After Naegle, John C. (Artist) Possibly N. Snellenburg & Co. (Framer)

Material: oil paint (paint), canvas

GUSN: 25257

Accession Number: 1931.1906

Chest

Rectangular form. Six-board chest w/ bracket feet on front and ogival arches on ends; hinged top has thumbnail molding on front edge only. Painted dull blue w/ black and red freehand decoration.

Date: 1780-1820

Maker: unknown

Material: metal, pine (wood)

GUSN: 25258

Accession Number: 1935.294

Military Commission Certificate

Black and gilt molded frame w/ glass; encloses military commission of Joshua Coffin, dated March 23, 1767, Boston.

Date: 1767

Maker: unknown

Material: paper (fiber product)

GUSN: 25259

Accession Number: 1941.1671

Military Commission Certificate

Black and gilt molded frame w/ glass; encloses military commission of Joshua Coffin, dated June 8, 1767, Boston.

Date: 1767

Maker: unknown

Material: paper (fiber product)

GUSN: 25260

Accession Number: 1941.1672

Fireplace shovel

Dished, bell-shaped iron shovel, head on plain round metal shaft; ring-and-vase brass handle terminating in round knob finial.

Date: 1780-1810

Maker: unknown

Material: brass (alloy), iron (metal), metal

GUSN: 25261

Accession Number: 1963.111A

Chest

Six-board chest; hinged lid has simple quarter-round molding on all four sides; dovetailed front and back; till with door tenoned into sides. Painted and stained red.

Date: 1790-1850

Maker: unknown

Material: metal, pine (wood)

GUSN: 25262

Accession Number: 1963.198

Andirons

Front legs are paired reverse S-curved shapes w/ volutes which support a tapered, fluted column terminating in a Doric capital. Round ribbed brass finial. Plain peg rear legs.

Date: ca. 1800

Maker: unknown

Material: brass (alloy), iron (metal)

GUSN: 25263

Accession Number: 1963.200AB

Wall mirror

Wall mirror. Veneered mahogany, paint, glass. Painted inscription on back: "Glass/ J. Nowlton/ Newburyport." Wide, rectangular, molded frame veneered in mahogany with central rectangular glass.

Date: 1830-1850

Maker: Nowlton, J. (Maker)

Material: mahogany (wood), veneer, wood (plant material)

GUSN: 25264

Accession Number: 1963.204

Drawing

Brown-tone wash drawing of clapboards "cabin" or one-room building, w/ inscription: "Still sits the schoolhouse by the road, a ragged beggar sunning". Drawing features a schoolmasters desk at lower right corner. Behind glass; molded oak frame. Pencil inscriptions: "Mrs E(?) H C--/ Went--Road/--Mass ...

Date: 1894

Maker: Thurlow, Frank (Maker)

Material: paper (fiber product)

GUSN: 25265

Accession Number: 1963.206

Drawing

Plain molded mahogany veneered frame and glass; polychrome watercolor drawing of T. Coffin House in background and two men moving a boat in the foreground.

Maker: unknown

Material: paper (fiber product)

GUSN: 25266

Accession Number: 1985.333

Side chair

Side chair. Unidentified woods; paint; caning. Grain-painted and striped. Wide crest rail with rounded shoulders. Shaped stile support. Solid vasiform splat. Scrolled front seat rail with caned seat. Cylindrical side and rear stretchers, rectangular front stretcher. Rests on curved front legs a...

Date: 1830-1850

Maker: unknown

Material: cane (plant material), graining, wood (plant material)

GUSN: 25267

Accession Number: 1985.360

Foot warmer

Wooden carrying case w/ wire bail handle. Case is mortise and tenon construction w/ four turned supports joining top and bottom. Tin case has hinged door w/ ring handle. All four sides display punched decoration of heart inside circle. Inside tin case is a dished tin tray w/ applied handle.

Date: 1750-1800

Maker: unknown

Material: tin (metal), wood (plant material)

GUSN: 25268

Accession Number: 1985.369A-C

Eruption of Vesuvius

Subject is the eruption of Vesuvius with Italian inscription at the lower edge. Handwritten tag on back reads: "Coffin House/ No. 5 High Street/ Newbury/ Mass." Second tag reads, "The eruption of Vesuvius in 1794 destroyed the town of Torre del Greco by a stream of lava estimated to contain more tha...

Date: 1800-1850

Maker: unknown

Material: oil paint (paint), canvas

GUSN: 25269

Accession Number: 1985.370