Exhibits at the Norwalk Historical Society Museum

Form, Function and Family: Silver from the Norwalk Historical Society and City of Norwalk Collections

Guest Curator: Elizabeth Pratt Fox

From a Colonial tankard to a Federal-period tea set to an Edwardian trophy, the exhibition offers a range of silver used for drinking and eating, as well as pieces purchased for presentation gifts or awards. The 85 unique pieces of silver represent 250 years of history. The visitor will have the opportunity to open six discovery drawers that house pieces made by local silversmiths, as well as souvenir spoons made to market Norwalk. The exhibition features items that were owned or made in Norwalk and reflect the city’s cultural heritage. Pieces from the Manice deForest Lockwood Collection are featured including an engraved tankard from 1740 and a Tiffany & Co. cake basket.

Silver Tankard c.1740
Elizabeth (Betsy) Pratt Fox has assisted institutions with exhibition planning and implementation, institutional assessments and planning and collection assessment. Prior to forming her consulting company in 1997, she worked at the Yale University Art Gallery, Connecticut Landmarks, Wadsworth Atheneum and The Connecticut Historical Society. Her projects have won awards from the Connecticut Humanities Council, Decorative Arts Society and the Association for the Study of State and Local History. The Connecticut League of History Organizations selected her to present several full-day workshops on curatorship and collection care and management and exhibition development. She served on the Board of the Connecticut League of History Organizations. She is a Mentor for the StEPS-CT program, an advisor for the Peer Advisor Network at the Connecticut Office of Culture and Tourism and chairs the Cheshire Historic District Commission. She holds a B.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma and a M.A. in Art History from Tulane University.

The Norwalk Historical Society Museum is located at 141 East Avenue, Norwalk, and is open Wednesday-Saturday, Noon-4pm, and during special events and by appointment for Self-Guided Tours. Enter from Norwalk City Hall parking area. The Museum is in the red brick house with blue double front doors.

For more information on how to book a self-guided tour, please visit the NHS Event Calendar page.

NHS Self-Guided Tour Schedule