The Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database documents more than 1,200 examples of decorative arts and material culture made or used in Wisconsin between 1800 and the 1930s. Objects represented here include handmade and manufactured furniture, utilitarian ceramics, art pottery, textiles, metalwork, woodcarving, baskets, and beadwork. The collection reflects just some of Wisconsin’s many diverse forms of material expression, ranging from Indigenous and European traditions to industrial modes of production to individual creative visions.

The digital collection brings together artifacts owned by 53 local and county historical societies, historic house museums, and other public collecting institutions in 29 counties throughout the state. Objects from eight private collections are also included.

Acknowledgements

The Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database was a collaborative effort of the Chipstone Foundation, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and the Material Culture Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to find and document decorative arts produced by Wisconsin craftspeople in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Project fieldwork and documentation took place between 2006-2011. In 2025, images and metadata were migrated to the University of Wisconsin Digitized Collections for long-term preservation and access.

Major funding for the project was provided by the Chipstone Foundation, with additional support from the Kaufman Americana Foundation. All object photographs and descriptive catalog entries were created by Emily Pfotenhauer, except as noted in individual records. Additional research assistance was provided by Maggie Ordon, Rebecca Wangard, and others. Many thanks to all of the staff, volunteers, and private individuals who opened their collections to this project and generously shared their time and expertise.