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Object Story: Niagara Beadwork Hat

This hat was created by a Haudenosaunee craftsperson in the mid-nineteenth century.

Object Story: Oval Shaker Box

This large oval box was made at the Shaker community in New Lebanon, New York.

Object Story: Still Life with a Basket of Fruit, Flowers, and Cornucopia

Still life painting with a basket of fruit, vase of flowers center, a large watermelon on a plate and cornucopia attributed to the artist Joseph Proctor.

Object Story: "Lone Star" Appliqued Chintz and Pieced Quilt

Quilt made by Mary Seeds Moon around 1840 in the popular Lone Star pattern.

Understanding Context: Different Ways to Make Sense of an Object

Connecting to People through Portraits

Like a photograph, a portrait represents a picture of a person.

Object Story: Portrait of Elizabeth Stone Coffin

Portrait of Elizabeth Stone Coffin painted by John Brewster Jr. in 1801.

Everybody Collects

The kinds of objects, artifacts, and artworks that people collect communicate different ideas.  They can be a record of events that happened in society.

Folk Art, Vernacular Art, or Naïve Art?

Many of the objects in the Fielding Collection such as Still Life with a Basket of Fruit, Flowers, and Cornucopia attributed to Joseph Proctor are often considered “folk art.”  Some people prefer to use related terms like “naïve,” “vernacular,” or “nonacademic” instead of “folk.”  All of these terms describe work by artists who may not have had extensive, formal training or decided not to follow the teachings and ideas of traditional art instruction.

Object Story: Stitching Statements and Sentiments

Explore quilt patterns that reflect women’s perspectives on the world and current events.