The replica Washington house is open at George Washington's Ferry Farm but furnishing is still ongoing. We traveled to Richmond to visit furniture maker Harrison Higgins and he told us about the furniture that he and his crew have made for the Washington house. Watch other videos and read more about rebuilding the Washington house … Continue reading The Furniture Makers: Harrison Higgins [Video]
Washington house
Washington House at Ferry Farm [Photos]
The Washington house at Ferry Farm is now open for tours! Using information from the probate inventory and archaeological evidence, the interpretive replica of George Washington’s boyhood home is currently being furnished with replica furniture and ceramics. You can read an in-depth post about the house here and below you will find photos that provide … Continue reading Washington House at Ferry Farm [Photos]
Washington House at Ferry Farm Now Open for Tours
The Washington house at Ferry Farm is now open for tours. The interpretive replica of George Washington’s boyhood home is an interactive and hands-on experience for all ages, where visitors can experience what life was like in the eighteenth century. Using information from the probate inventory and archaeological evidence, the Washington house is currently being … Continue reading Washington House at Ferry Farm Now Open for Tours
Video: The Seven Easy Pieces of Furniture – Episode 1: Low Post Beds
In this video, Fredericksburg, Virginia-based furniture maker Steve Dietrich discusses some of the techniques he used to create four low post beds for the reconstructed Washington house at George Washington's Ferry Farm. Watch other videos and read more about rebuilding the Washington house here.
Video: The Rooms at Ferry Farm – A Furnishings Update
In this video, Curator Meghan Budinger shows us early arrivals among the reproduction furniture to go into the reconstructed Washington house at George Washington's Ferry Farm.
Why Were There Weird Animal Feet on 18th Century Furniture?
As more of reproduction furnishings for the Washington house get underway, I thought I might address one of the more notable characteristics of the pieces: their feet. Anyone familiar with antique furniture has noticed the sometimes rather odd appearance of foot shapes at the end of table and chair legs. We have a variety of … Continue reading Why Were There Weird Animal Feet on 18th Century Furniture?
The Colorful Glass Tablewares of the Washington Household
As work continues on the reconstructed Washington family home at Ferry Farm, we archaeologists are identifying items that were owned by the Washingtons so we can eventually fill the reconstructed house with plates, bowls, glasses, and many other objects based on artifacts we’ve discovered. In a previous blog post, we looked at some of the … Continue reading The Colorful Glass Tablewares of the Washington Household
Video – Building George’s House: Oyster Slaking
In this video, stone and brick mason Ray Cannetti and his crew turn burnt oyster shells from last summer's lime rick burn into powdered lime to use in mortar in the reconstructed Washington house chimneys. Learn more about the Washington House here and view other videos, photos, and blog posts about the project at here.
Getting “Judgy” With Colonial Revival Ceramics
Previously on Lives and Legacies, curator Meghan Budinger laid out a wonderful summary of the Colonial Revival movement. At no point did she weigh-in with her opinion of Colonial Revival and she should be applauded for her diplomacy. To be honest, though, many historians, material culture specialists, and decorative arts enthusiasts (among others) can get … Continue reading Getting “Judgy” With Colonial Revival Ceramics
Video – Lecture: “The Rooms at Ferry Farm”
On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, Meghan Budinger, Aldrich Director of Curatorial Operations at The George Washington Foundation, presented a lecture titled “The Rooms at Ferry Farm.” Meghan surveyed how we plan to furnish the reconstructed Washington house using traditional decorative arts scholarship but also adopted skills from genealogists, architectural historians, material cultural experts, scientists, and … Continue reading Video – Lecture: “The Rooms at Ferry Farm”
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