For some objects, time has not been kind. Histories can be forgotten, and objects can be accidentally broken or purposefully altered. As a result, they might not look the same or even serve the purpose for which they were originally intended. Nevertheless, these items can still be significant. In their new state, they take on new meanings, tell new stories, and remind us that history is always being rewritten. These items may not be “traditional” masterpieces, but they preserve fascinating information and show how objects can be repurposed or altered over time. 

Image: The Accident in Lombard-Street by Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1787. Ink on laid paper. Museum purchase with funds provided by Caroline Clendenin Ryan Foundation, Inc. 1962.88a.