Luce Center: Browse

The Museum\'s renowned chronological series of American period rooms on the fourth floor traces the history of interiors in the United States, from the Dutch and English colonies, beginning about 1700, through the early twentieth century. The Luce Center for American Art contains many of the types of objects that would have been included in such rooms. To meet the demands of daily life through changing times, various furniture forms evolved that were characteristic of different periods of interior decoration in American houses. Periods were also distinguished by their decorative motifs. During the period of the struggle for independence and the early republic, for example, the patriotic symbol of the eagle often appeared as decoration on objects and furniture. Other historic factors have influenced the design of decorative objects. Evolving tastes for new foods, for example, have inspired new forms for tablewares. New technologies, especially in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, demanded new forms, such as electric lighting and television and radio sets.

In American paintings, domestic interiors--often carefully delineated--have long served as settings for narrative and genre works. Artists have also included glimpses of interiors as backgrounds for portraits.

Colonial Interior
	50.57	Joseph Blackburn Portrait of a Woman, ca. 1762 View object details...
	1997.150.1a-b	Unknown Armchair, ca. 1740-1760 View object details...
	1997.150.14	Unknown Card Table, ca. 1800 View object details...
	1997.150.16	Robert Harrold Tray-Top Table, ca. 1770 View object details...
19th Century Interior
	24.72	Raphaelle Peale Still Life with Cake, 1822 View object details...
	35.1865	Raphaelle Peale Still Life with Peaches, 1821 View object details...
	45.157	William McGregor Paxton Girl Arranging Flowers, 1921 View object details...
	57.68	Frederick R. Spencer Family Group, 1840 View object details...
	67.9	Severin Roesen Still Life with Fruit, ca. 1860 View object details...
	1992.89	Pottier & Stymus Armchair (Egyptian Revival style), ca. 1870 View object details...
	1993.210	Platt Powell Ryder Fireside Companion, 1889 View object details...
	1994.153	Allen & Brother Center Table, ca. 1875 View object details...
	1995.15	Alexander Roux Sideboard, ca. 1855 View object details...
	1996.43.1	Samuel Lovett Waldo David Leavitt, ca. 1820-1825 View object details...
	1996.43.2	Samuel Lovett Waldo Maria Clarissa Leavitt, ca. 1820-1825 View object details...
	1998.89	Cornelius & Co. Candelabrum, ca. 1853 View object details...
	1999.113	Cecelia Beaux Mrs. Robert Abbe (Catherine Amory Bennett), 1898-1899 View object details...
	2001.47.1	John La Farge Flowers on a Japanese Tray on a Mahogany Table, 1879 View object details...
Modern Interior
	72.3	Marsden Hartley Handsome Drinks, 1916 View object details...
	83.108.5a-c	Norman Bel Geddes "Skyscraper" Cocktail Shaker with Strainer and Lid, 1937 View object details...
	83.108.6	Norman Bel Geddes Cocktail Glass, One of Eight, 1937 View object details...
	83.108.7	Norman Bel Geddes Cocktail Glass, One of Eight, 1937 View object details...
	83.108.8	Norman Bel Geddes Cocktail Glass, One of Eight, 1937 View object details...
	83.108.9	Norman Bel Geddes Cocktail Glass, One of Eight, 1937 View object details...
	83.158	Sparks-Withington Co. Sparton Table Radio, ca. 1936 View object details...
	87.121	Gilbert Rohde Desk Lamp, ca. 1933 View object details...
	1998.44	Catherine Winkler Predicta Line Pedestal, Model 4654 (Television), Designed 1958 View object details...
	1999.141.5	Gilbert Rohde Clock, Model 4082, ca. 1933 View object details...