The Material World of Eyre Hall

"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.