American Decorative Arts

The American Decorative arts collection uniquely embodies the history of material culture in New England and America. From elaborately carved and painted 17th century chests to the modern masterpieces of Marcel Breuer and Frank Lloyd Wright, the collection contains works ranging from the utilitarian to the luxurious. It also includes the museum’s collection of Colt Firearms, acquired from Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt in 1905.

Connecticut craftsmen are celebrated through fine examples of Samuel Loomis (1748-1814), maker of Colchester/Norwich style furniture, and Eliphalet Chapin (1741-1807), Connecticut’s most renowned colonial cabinetmaker. Unique forms come to life in the modern meets natural ethos designs of George Nakashima (1905-90).

Search the American Decorative Arts Collection
Use this link to search for objects in the American Decorative Arts collection. Please note: digitizing artworks is an ongoing process, so this search is not representative of the museum’s entire collection. You can identify objects that are currently on view via the Object Description box, in the “Currently on view?” field.

Updates to our database are made weekly, so if you plan to visit the museum to see a specific work of art please call the Information Desk in advance of your visit at (860) 838-4100, Wednesday through Sunday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm to ensure availability.

Browse our curator’s collection highlights using the gallery below.
Images below do not reflect what is currently on view.