Furniture

Most of the furniture displayed throughout the Library reflects the 18th-century era of its founding. From the first purchase of a distinctive set of Windsor chairs to the Louis XVI French fauteuils, the Decorative Arts Collection of Redwood has grown through generous donations. Among these are a fine pair of celestial and terrestrial globes given by George Tiffany, the Oriental vases donated by Mrs. Hamilton Fish Webster and a chandelier brought from England by Mrs. Guy F. Cary.

Of major significance is an exquisite card table (c. 1760) attributed to legendary Newport furniture craftsman John Townsend. Two Townsend-made mahogany trays were also part of this donation, as was a collection of Townsend-Easton family china and silver by Samuel Vernon and Samuel Casey.

Chippandale mahogany console,
attributed to John Goddard

Tallcase Clocks

Among the treasures from the furniture collection are two tallcase clocks - a William Claggett longcase built in Newport, RI, c. 1728 and a Goldsmith longcase c. 1870 built in London. The William Claggett clock is Redwood's most outstanding testament to the remarkable craftsmanship of Newport's Golden Age. Once owned by a seafaring family, this clock has a special dial that indicates the time of high tide. The black japanned case with its pastoral Chinoiserie figures and sarcophagus hood may also have been made in Newport.