This project traces and documents British and Irish furniture makers who migrated to the Early American eastern seaboard throughout the long eighteenth century. Thousands of craftspeople from a broad range of trades took this journey across the sea in the hopes of building prosperous businesses and lives for themselves and their families. Here we focus on furniture makers.

Our research is developing comprehensive histories about several hundred furniture makers. Where did these craftspeople set up their homes, workshops and retail shops, and why? Did they establish manufacturing and retailing networks with fellow immigrants from their places of origin or assimilate into established furniture-making communities? Who were their patrons and clientele? What were the innovative contributions they made to the construction, designs and styles of American-made furniture? Have some of their objects been identified? 

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In the coming months we will be launching our new collection box where you'll find links to the stories of furniture makers who immigrated to towns and cities in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. 

We are grateful to the Decorative Arts Trust for their Failey Grant contribution.