Established in 1926 by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and fellow activists Nancy Cook and her life partner, Marion Dickerman, along with Caroline O’Day, the furniture manufacturing venture known as Val-Kill Industries revived historical furniture traditions and drew crucial inspiration from The Met’s early American holdings. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Val-Kill's founding, Cottage Industry: The Val-Kill Furniture Shop celebrates this groundbreaking enterprise, which was led by women and shaped by immigrant and rural craftspeople. Featuring loans from the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site as well as the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the American Wing's historic collections while highlighting the enduring connections between craft, design, and social reform.
Bringing together over 30 works, Cottage Industry features rare examples of Val-Kill furniture alongside conceptual designs and templates that illuminate the workshop's creative process and collaborative spirit. Highlights include finely crafted desks, tables, and chairs from Eleanor Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park. In addition, the exhibition considers complementary Arts and Crafts furniture by Gustav Stickley and the Byrdcliffe Colony as well as reflects on Val-Kill's legacy through Depression-era prints, painting, and sculpture. Presented alongside historical furniture from The Met's American Wing, these works reveal how the Museum's collections inspired Val-Kill's designs while offering visitors a closer look at the artistry, craftsmanship, and progressive ideals that defined this pioneering workshop.
The exhibition is made possible by the Richard Hampton Jenrette Americana Fund.