Past Exhibition

The Brick Store Museum and Old York Historical Society of York, Maine teamed up to present this exhibition representing some of southern Maine's premier furniture craftsmen. The exhibit was augmented by 26 period room installations in three historic museum houses that focused on the early furniture and material culture of southern Maine at the Old York Historical Society. Thomas B. Johnson, Curator of the Old York Historical Society, served as guest curator for the exhibit.

A total of 93 pieces of Maine-made and used furniture spanning the period from the late seventeenth century into the 1930s were selected, representing both high-style and vernacular design. The exhibit evolved from a smaller one by the same name that was on display at the Maine State Museum in Augusta in 1997 and 1998. Key pieces included a veneered Queen Anne high chest by York cabinetmaker Samuel Sewall, circa 1750, an inlaid federal period sideboard by Kennebunk maker William Hackett circa 1815, a Shaker sewing desk made by Elder Henry Green in Alfred about 1830, and numerous examples of Maine grain painted and decorated furniture.

William Hackett first appears in records from Essex County, Massachusetts in 1802. He is believed to have trained under Mark Pitman, a Massachusetts cabinetmaker, who was renowned for his adeptness in handling sophisticated pieces. By 1803, Hackett advertising begins to appear in newspapers in the Kennebunks as building elegant, mahogany furnishings from sideboards to secretaries rivaling productions of any New England cabinetmaker of the period. This helps to prove that the Kennebunks wanted, could afford and were producing high-style furniture. The Brick Store Museum has the only two William Hackett pieces known that can be positively attributed to him. Both were on view during the exhibition.

In addition, there were ten pieces representing the Maine State Museum's large collection of Maine painted furniture spanning a hundred year period from 1750-1850. The attraction to the production of painted furniture was that it could serve as a lower cost alternative to the fancy inlaid furniture as well as an expression of ethnic taste.

Lenders to the exhibition included the Maine State Museum, Brick Store Museum, Old York Historical Society, York Institute Museum, Old Berwick Historical Society, Bridgton Historical Society, and two private collectors.


	Out of the Woods: 200 Years of Maine Furniture June 5 - December 23, 1999
	The Brick Store Museum and Old York Historical Society of York, Maine teamed up to present this exhibition representing some of southern Maine's premier furniture craftsmen. The exhibit was augmented by 26 period room installations in three historic museum houses that focused on the early furniture and material culture of southern Maine at the Old York Historical Society. Thomas B. Johnson, Curator of the Old York Historical Society, served as guest curator for the exhibit. A total of 93 pieces of Maine-made and used furniture spanning the period from the late seventeenth century into the 1930s were selected, representing both high-style and vernacular design. The exhibit evolved from a smaller one by the same name that was on display at the Maine State Museum in Augusta in 1997 and 1998. Key pieces included a veneered Queen Anne high chest by York cabinetmaker Samuel Sewall, circa 1750, an inlaid federal period sideboard by Kennebunk maker William Hackett circa 1815, a Shaker sewing desk made by Elder Henry Green in Alfred about 1830, and numerous examples of Maine grain painted and decorated furniture. William Hackett first appears in records from Essex County, Massachusetts in 1802. He is believed to have trained under Mark Pitman, a Massachusetts cabinetmaker, who was renowned for his adeptness in handling sophisticated pieces. By 1803, Hackett advertising begins to appear in newspapers in the Kennebunks as building elegant, mahogany furnishings from sideboards to secretaries rivaling productions of any New England cabinetmaker of the period. This helps to prove that the Kennebunks wanted, could afford and were producing high-style furniture. The Brick Store Museum has the only two William Hackett pieces known that can be positively attributed to him. Both were on view during the exhibition. In addition, there were ten pieces representing the Maine State Museum's large collection of Maine painted furniture spanning a hundred year period from 1750-1850. The attraction to the production of painted furniture was that it could serve as a lower cost alternative to the fancy inlaid furniture as well as an expression of ethnic taste. Lenders to the exhibition included the Maine State Museum, Brick Store Museum, Old York Historical Society, York Institute Museum, Old Berwick Historical Society, Bridgton Historical Society, and two private collectors.
© 2007, Brick Store Museum