The growing prosperity and population of inland Massachusetts during the early decades of the new American nation led to an increasing demand for stylish homes and refined household furnishings. In response, cabinetmakers in rural communities crafted increasingly sophisticated furniture that met local consumers’ functional needs as well as their desire for fashion.

     The sampling of documented furniture in this exhibition, made by craftsmen working in central Massachusetts, helps illustrate how artisans changed their production practices to keep up with an emerging culture of consumerism in the countryside.  Inland makers provided elegance and style in furniture suitable for a growing clientele aspiring to middle class identity.

• Seasonal Work Rhythms
• From Craft to Industry
• Local Materials
• Distinctive Workmanship
• Family and Community
• Sophisticated Style
• Learning the Trade
• Accommodating Fashion and Budget