Artifacts & Antiques 

The complete story of Any House Museum cannot be adequately conveyed without giving proper attention to the material culture that surrounded it's former occupants; in this case the objects of the Williams Family.

There are a number of important objects originally in the mansion with a provenance that traces ownership to the Williams Family, including case furniture, seating furniture, books, paintings, prints, silver sets, textiles, and the like.  These objects reveal much about the mansion’s former occupants such as the importance they placed on societal views of wealth.  When the mansion owners, Dr. Alexander Williams and Catharine Dickson Williams, entertained anyone fortunate enough to have received an invitation or happened to visit for other purposes would have immediately noticed their expensive tastes reflected in their furnishings.  

While a number of objects are original to the mansion, there are many more objects that are not original to the mansion. However, these objects are contemporary to the Williams collection. These examples of furnishings are chosen according to scholarship that identifies appropriate items likely Similar to what the Williams would have had and meet the collection's acquisition parameter of the late 1700’s to 1865. 

It is worthwhile to note that the mansion’s collection includes some important pieces of case furniture fully documented as made by the Burgner family of Greene County Cabinetmakers.  Led by J.C. Burgner and four of his brothers, these artisans made furniture for over forty years and today these pieces are highly sought after by collectors and institutions.