There was a great deal of interest in science among Quakers in 18th century Pennsylvania. Susanna Wright’s immediate circle was fascinated by astronomy, and James Logan, her mentor, planned for the building of an observatory in the Philadelphia area in or around 1717. According to Susanna’s father’s 1749 estate inventory, the Wright family owned a similar telescope to this example.

Retaining their original frames, these partnered portraits of William and Mary would have identified their owner as a loyal supporter of English monarchy and rule.

This platter displays molded patterning similar to that found on chards discovered during 1970s and 2000s excavations at Wright’s Ferry Mansion and the nearby Blunston family property. The actual patterning seems similar to needlework, such as what is known as Whitework.

Palampores were counted among the most unique and costly of imported textiles to the American colonies. A common central design for such textiles is a tree with many extended branches, while additional patterns feature great floral blossoms and exotic animals, such as elephants and peacocks. [This example descended in the Plumstead and McCall families of Philadelphia.]

An easy chair has often been identified as a seating form for the elderly or infirmed. But, such forms were most likely aesthetic choices, dependent on the wealth and social standing of the individual.

Gate-leg tables represent a period where a house’s rooms more often than not served multiple functions. When fully extended, such tables could dominate the center of an interior for the purpose of dining or some other form of entertaining. Later, they could easily be reduced in size via the activation of hinged, swing legs and drop-leaves, allowing the table to be stored along a perimeter wall when not in use.

This imposing footed bowl was probably intended to serve a mixed beverage such as a mulled wine. Its exterior, with red, green, blue, and yellow patterning, mimics floral tapestries of the period.

Such plate warmers would have been placed next to a fireplace to warm 6 plates at a time.

A chest-on-chest is literally defined as the stacking of one chest on top of a larger chest. As a specific 18th century furniture form, the two sections would be made by the same workshop, and identified as one, single piece of cabinetwork. The concept of uniting multiple, more maneuverable pieces to form one large piece of furniture derives from traveling cabinets, cases, and writing desks of Europe’s Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque eras, which often were partnered or stacked when in use.

A portrait of an unidentified man, this miniature represents a popular means of honoring a friend, loved one, or admired figure. This particular example is counted among the smallest known examples, and probably would have been worn around the owner’s neck via a complementary gold chain.

This rare survivor that documents the original oak shake roof of Wright’s Ferry Mansion was found during the restoration, intact, in the structure’s attic story.

Delicate in both its material of manufacture and general form, this serving vessel is intended to hold small confectionery or candy bites.

Cruciform (or cross-form) bottles have increased surface areas compared to more common square and circular bottles, presumably affording greater benefit for the process of chilling certain beverages.

With its polychrome rendering of garden flowers, this cushion well represents the importance assigned to needlework skills within the household.

Though we often refer to such pieces as “grandfather” clocks, this is a modern terminology. Of the period, such clocks would have been known simply as tall-case timepieces. Their design is practical, with the height affording protection of the power-driving weights.

Such pierced boxes would have usually been paired, with one intended to hold a bar of soap, and the other a section of natural sponge.

Puzzle jugs served as a means of entertainment, whereby participants were challenged to figure out how to consume the contents within without having them spill out or on the player.

Despite Susanna Wright’s inroads for American silk production, English dress silks remained an important export into the colonies. Even Quakers would wear fine and brightly colored English silks in the 18th century. The regulations on dress that were put on Quakers were not strictly enforced until the later 1700’s. This beautiful silk, with its life-like rendering of flowers including tulips and roses would have been a laborious effort and expensive to purchase.

Monteith bowls feature bands of notches along their brims for supporting the bases of multiple wine glasses, affording each to be rinsed in shared chilled water.

A copy of this book was owned by Susanna Wright. Next to a recipe for a special custard that called for twenty eggs and a quart of cream, Susanna wrote: “beat all well to gather (sic), till your arms ach(sic)...you can beat it no longer.”

This well-rendered still-life that consists of a bouquet of flowers atop a table represents what is known as Whitework — a type of needlework that sometimes mimicked the ornate, monochromatic plaster and stone reliefs found in architecture. Such compositions were accomplished through the careful cutting and pulling of specific threads and the delicate stuffing of certain sections of a base linen and/or cotton material, all orchestrated by a skillful needle and thread. This work is signed “S.W.” and dated “1727”.

Susanna Wright purchased a similar tea kettle from Benjamin and Deborah Franklin’s general store during her Wright’s Ferry residency. In a letter to Susanna, Mrs. Franklin noted: “the tee Kittle was the best caste I saw but none of the topes did fit better and the people who youse then had topes maid by a smith…”

Susanna Wright borrowed a copy of this book from her mentor, James Logan, secretary to William Penn and master strategist in the development of the Pennsylvania Colony. It was one of the first books to mention the idea of pollination as a means of procreation for plants. 

In the 18th century, next to money, property, and books, a bed was counted among the most valuable possessions one could own. This bedstead, with its reproduction hangings of woven wool, would have been seen as one of the most stylish additions to the household.

The trumpet form such as that represented by this delicate drinking vessel was thought to emulate the musical instruments associated with Heaven.

Such serving pieces were counted among the most luxurious of early-18th century domestic wares. With their graduating tiers and array of individual, baluster-form serving cups, they were used as both mesmerizing table decoration and practical means for serving delicacies such as sweetmeats (confectionery or candy bites), seasoned nuts, puddings, syllabub (a type of wine-laced whipped cream), and various jellies.

Counted as the Royal Martyr, England’s Charles I is known for his historic power struggle with Parliament that resulted in his country’s civil war. He was subsequently beheaded and replaced by his one-time advisor Oliver Cromwell. After Cromwell’s own fall, which was precipitated by continued persecution of religious minorities such as the Quakers, Charles I was redeemed as a heroic figure, hence his becoming the subject of popular prints such as this example.

John Parkinson’s Theater of Plants was the first systematic catalog of plants to be written in English. Susanna Wright – with many members of her circle – was fascinated by the natural world, seeing it as an illustration of divine creation.