Copper Saucepan

Daily life at Mount Vernon

This saucepan would have been used by Mount Vernon’s kitchen slaves to prepare meals for the Washingtons and their guests. Made of copper, the saucepan is lined with tin to avoid the distinctive metallic taste imparted to food by copper cookware. George Washington willed all of the kitchen cookware to his wife upon his death. It is believed that Thomas Peter (husband of Martha Washington’s granddaughter Martha Parke Custiis) purchased the pan in 1802, at an auction held after Martha’s death (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

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Hannah Glasse, The art of cookery, made plain and easy: which far exceeds anything of the kind ever yet published

Daily life at Mount Vernon

First published in England in 1747, Hannah Glasse’s The Art of Cookery made Plain and Easy was probably the best-known and most widely used cookbook in both England and the American colonies in the eighteenth century. The book went through a number of editions. Martha Washington’s copy dates from the early 1770s, and was part of a list of English goods requested by George Washington (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

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Work basket

Daily life at Mount Vernon

This basket was probably purchased for Martha Washington in Philadelphia in 1795. She would have used it to hold bulkier items as she sewed, which supports the family legend that the basket often held George Washington’s socks while Martha darned them (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

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Footstool

Daily life at Mount Vernon

This footstool is identified by script on the underside that reads “This stool was owned by Martha Washington and given to Nellie Custis her grand child…”  Martha would likely have used this stool as she was sewing (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

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Sewing Chair

Daily life at Mount Vernon

Martha Washington’s granddaughter Eliza Custis Law purchased this chair at the 1802 public auction following Martha’s death. Family tradition identifies it as Martha’s sewing chair. Because of the amount of high-quality fabric needed to upholster such a chair, it was considered a luxury item (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

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Boxwood Rule

Daily life at Mount Vernon

This short boxwood ruler was used for various sewing projects. Martha was a dedicated seamstress throughout her entire life. This ruler was typical of the period; there would likely have been several such instruments at Mount Vernon. Martha’s granddaughter Eliza Parke Custis Law identified this object as a “Box rule from the writing desk of my lamented grandmother" (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

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Shell pattern chair cushion, c. 1765-1802

Daily life at Mount Vernon

Martha Washington was an avid seamstress. While much of her time was spent directing the work of servants and slaves, she produced many pieces of needlework. This shell pattern was cross-stitched by Martha herself over a period of decades. The canvases were ultimately made into cushions, probably for Windsor chairs. Six of these cushions survive at Mount Vernon today (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Martha Washington

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

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Custine tea service

Daily life at Mount Vernon

This tea service was presented as a gift to the Washingtons in the early 1780s from the Comte de Custine-Sarreck, who had served under George Washington and General Rochambeau at Yorktown. It was designed specifically for the Washingtons and made at Custine’s own porcelain factory in Niderviller, France (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Niderviller pottery and porcelain factory, France

1783

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Mahogany Dressing Table

Daily life at Mount Vernon

This bureau dressing table was made by Williamsburg cabinetmaker Peter Scott, and is the only known documented piece of furniture made by him. It was purchased by Daniel Parke Custis in 1754. Martha Custis brought it to Mount Vernon after her marriage to George Washington in 1759 (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Peter Scott

1754

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Chinese Lacquered Dressing Glass

Daily life at Mount Vernon

Imported Chinese luxury goods had long been popular in the American colonies. Such goods became more readily available when trade with China opened up after the Revolution. George Washington purchased this lacquered Chinese dressing glass for his wife during his second term as president, probably in 1795 (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

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