The Furnishings
Detail of Sofa Leg, Boston Classical, Isaac Vose & Son of Boston, 1820

The Furnishings

Visitors to Salisbury Mansion will see household furnishings and decorative arts that range from early 18th century Queen Anne to 1820s Boston Classical.  Unlike today, cabinetmaking was a craft and furniture was custom made.  There was no browsing through the isles of Pottery Barn or Ikea!

Perhaps the most stunning piece on exhibit is Stephen Salisbury’s standing desk, purchased from a Boston cabinetmaker in 1772.  In style it is high-end Chippendale, with a serpentine front and bold brasses – designed in every way to impress.  Also eye-catching is the heavy Boston Classical sofa with falcon heads embellishing the front legs, part of a suite of furniture purchased from Isaac Vose & Son of Boston in 1820.  Other Salisbury pieces include a set of Vose chairs, an 18th century harp, two 19th century sofas, and ceramics.

Salisbury possessions are complemented by artifacts representative of the furniture listed in an 1851 inventory of household goods, written by Stephen Salisbury II prior to selling them at a public auction after the death of his mother, Elizabeth Tuckerman Salisbury.

Visit Us

Address
30 Elm Street
Worcester, MA 01609
» Get Directions

Contact Us
e: info@worcesterhistory.net
p: (508) 753-8278

Museum Hours

Gallery Hours
Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM
Every fourth Thursday until 8:30PM

Library Hours
(By appointment only) Wednesday-Saturday
10AM-4PM library@worcesterhistory.net

Salisbury Mansion
Thursday-Saturday, 1-4PM

Closed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Patriot’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

SPONSOR

This website was made possible by a generous gift from The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation, Inc.

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