Exhibit: Containing Indoor Plants

Early 19th century Americans desired to create small indoor gardens of potted plants for pleasure and for decoration. Growing small flowering plants throughout the winter was becoming all the rage for the middle class. 

In American towns, peddlers sold potted plants in markets and from the back of carts. Hyacinths planted in flower pots forced the popular plant to flower indoors on the mantelpiece or window sill. The flower was loved for its scent and ease of growing in the flower pots. In an era that was full of a thirst for knowledge, or “the age of enlightenment,” brought a sense of control within reach for so many amateur gardeners.

Flower Pots from the HOF Collection

This petite display at the National Historic Register Wilson-Warner House includes four period redware flowerpots, two decorated metal cachepots, a Staffordshire gardener figurine, and a small gardener’s spade. These assembled eight objects represent just a sampling of the over 7,000 objects in the HOF collection.