This work marks a new direction in the study of decorative arts and belongs in every collector's library. In a lively and readable text, Historic New England curator Nancy Carlisle, a nationally recognized expert in the study of American material culture, offers poignant stories of both famous and forgotten players in New England's story. She presents more than 175 visually stunning objects, examines their roles as beloved treasures in peoples' lives, and shows how they give us a nuanced perspective on the past. The objects are selected from one of the nation's most important collections of...