In the next twelve years, fifteen thousand objects were purchased to fill the projected building; as with other female collectors of the time Coffin-Chevallier collected pieces across a broad spectrum. From the records that are left, Bowes collection archivists surmise that Coffin-Chevallier used her own artistic eye in collecting decorative arts pieces such as ceramics, silverware, and tapestries. She also made extensive purchases from the International Exhibitions held in Paris in 1862, 1867, and in London in 1871. Her purchases of paintings benefited from her friendships with young artists, and she also worked with two Parisian dealers, Mme Lepautre and A. Lamer, who left annotated records of their dealings, which are still held by the museum. She purchased works by artists as diverse as El Greco, Cannaletto, Boucher, Anne Vallayer-Coster, Courbet, and Charles Joshua Chaplin.