October 1, 2009 - October 2, 2010 
"A Land of Liberty and Plenty":
Georgia Decorative Arts, 1733 - 1860

See some of MESDA's newest objects and explore the diverse decorative arts traditions of Georgia, the last of Great Britain's North American colonies and the center of the modern American South.

October 19, 2010 - May 1, 2011
The Furniture of Piedmont North Carolina

The Piedmont of North Carolina was home to a diverse community of cabinetmakers from the late 18th century, a region that today is synonymous with fine furniture making. 

Spring 2011
Southern Silver

From engraver to banker, and jeweler to watchmaker, the silversmith filled a variety of roles in early Southern society. 

Previous Exhibits

Febuary 1, 2009 - September 15, 2009
Southern Seats:
Turned Chairs in the American South

"A southern chair is no more complicated than a southern family" quipped one scholar at MESDA's 2009 Furniture Seminar.  This exhibit explores the diversity of southern seats and southern sitters.

April 15, 2008 - September 15, 2008
"Black and White all Mix'd Together":
The Hidden Legacy of Enslaved Craftsmen

Enslaved black and free white craftsmen worked side by side across the southern landscape. This exhibit recovers the stories of the many named and nameless individuals whose hidden hands shaped the southern landscape.

September 1, 2007 - April 1, 2008
Where South Meets North:
The Decorative Arts of Maryland, 1720 - 1820

In geography, politics and culture, early Maryland was the quintessential border state.  Situated between Virginia and Pennsylvania, the decorative arts of Maryland bespeak its role as a cultural crossroad between North and South.