Description
Book SynopsisErected in 1759 on the Eastern shore of Virginia, the remarkable Eyre Hall is still occupied by descendants of its builder, Littleton Eyre. Since construction, Eyre’s succeeding generations have acquired and preserved a rich variety of objects reflecting the tastes and aspirations of the many different families that lived there. Featuring extensively researched text from 22 contributors, this volume comprises four main sections that examine the historical, sociological, anthropological and architectural significance of the house, from the first generation through to the current owner, Furlong Baldwin. A catalogue raisonné of the material culture of Eyre Hall includes furniture, silver, ceramics, glass, paintings, prints, books, musical instruments, bound sheet music, textiles and miscellaneous objects. This volume also presents two family trees—one of the Eyre family; the other of people who worked at the house in the early 20th century—and four major maps, alongside stunning new colour photography of the building, grounds and catalogue pieces.
Trade Review"Some readers will see this book as a companion to The Chesapeake House, the magisterial account of early Tidewater architecture. It is that and more. With its focus on a single house and its remarkably preserved collection, it sets a new standard for scholarship on house museums, though its subject is a private home. Thanks to this beautiful book, Eyre Hall finally has the wider audience that it deserves. “—Jeffrey E. Klee, vice president and senior director of Architecture, Classical American Homes Preservation Trust; “The Material World of Eyre Hall goes far beyond chronicling four centuries at a well preserved private residence on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Baldwin and Lounsbury bring together a who’s who of American material-culture historians to offer a compelling portrait of life in the Chesapeake. The eloquent introduction and history of the Eyre family coupled with first-hand accounts of those who lived and worked at Eyre Hall provide a valuable context for understanding the extraordinary buildings, landscape, and household objects that survive to tell its story. “—Carol B. Cadou, Charles F. Montgomery Director and CEO, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library; “This work is a rare confluence of a historic place, objects, and people captivating readers with a compelling historical narrative that spans over 350 years. In addition to the remarkable objects passed down from one generation to the next, it is also a legacy that entwines landowners, enslaved people, freedmen, and servants. Their stories are here, too—and rightfully so. The richness found in these pages surpasses much of what we see and hear at public historic house museums and sites." —Christy S. Coleman, Executive Director, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments by Carl R. Lounsbury; A Note from Henry Furlong Baldwin; Foreword by J Thomas Savage; Eyreloom: An Introduction by Cary Carson; I The Changing Fortunes of the Eyre Family through Four Centuries: Chapter 1 Golden Quarter by Carl R. Lounsbury; Eyreville: Archaeology of the Late Seventeenth Century by Haley Hoffman; Chapter 2 Eyre Hall: Power House by Carl R. Lounsbury; Working the Land by Sam Florer; Chapter 3 The Bounty of Eyre Hall: From Working Plantation to Summer Retreat in the Long Nineteenth Century by Carl R. Lounsbury; Escaping Enslavement by Whaleboat, 1832 by Alexandra Rosenberg; Health Retreats and Pleasure Grounds by Robert Watkins; Hoofprints by Elizabeth Palms; Chapter 4 Eyre Hall in the Twentieth Century: “I’m Home” by George W. McDaniel; A Scrapbook of Recollections by Those Who Called Eyre Hall “Home” by George W. McDaniel; II Architecture: The Architecture of the House by Carl R. Lounsbury; Architectural Hardware by Edward A. Chappell; Wallpaper by Margaret Pritchard; Domestic Service Buildings by Carl R. Lounsbury; Home Farm by Carl R. Lounsbury; III Landscape: Garden and Grounds by Will Rieley; Green -house by Will Rieley; Graveyard by Carl R. Lounsbury; IV Catalogue: Furniture by Sumpter Priddy; Silver by Mark B. Letzer; Ceramics by Robert Hunter and Angelika R. Kuettner; Glass by Angelika R. Kuettner; Paintings by Laura Pass Barry; Maps by Katie McKinney; Prints by Katie McKinney; Books by Bennie Brown; Musical Instruments by John Watson; Sheet Music by Gary Stanton; Costume and Textiles by Neal T. Hurst; Ironwork and Arms by Erik Goldstein; Index; Photo credits.
