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The Accidental Preservationist

An unexpected journey

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What is The AP?

Join me on an unexpected journey in restoration and research at the circa 1810 Simon Jude Chancognie House in Charleston, South Carolina and beyond.

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With all of the rain that we have had recently, I was not surprised to find an array of artifacts in the yard here at the Chancognie House. Fragments of ceramics and glass, as well as nails and the occasional vintage Lego all bubble up to the surface after a good rainfall. This slide bolt was quite a surprise, however, especially since it appears to match the hardware on the original first floor panel shutters of the house. This is why I am always walking around the yard around looking down! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Yes, the peaches at the Chancognie House are delicious! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Thanks to the @charlestonmuseum and @ginnytheerman for the sneak preview of Eliza Lucas Pinckney’s c.1753 robe à la française gown that will be on display May 13 through July 9. This “dress in the French style” was popular among upper class Western European women in the 1720s through the 1780s and features a narrow bodice with a full skirt. Eliza (1722-93) worked to introduce sericulture to South Carolina, but this dress was not likely made from silk that she produced. Silk production was never a great success in colonial America, although Eliza was able to produce enough silk to have some fabric produced. A dress from her own silk exists in the collection of the Smithsonian and a scrap of that South Carolina produced silk is in the collection of the Museum and on display here. There is documentation of Eliza gifting a dress from her own silk to Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales as well as fabric to fellow botany enthusiast the Earl of Stanhope. While similar dresses from this time period exist in collections, it is an exceptionally rare Southern example and very unique in that so much is known about its history. Family history indicates that the dress in the Museum’s collection was worn by Eliza when she met Augusta in the fall of 1753. The dress is a quite a survivor – see slide three for an undated image of the dress being worn by one of Eliza’s descendants. In addition to the dress, there is a pair of cuff links made for Eliza’s son Thomas after her death with locks of her hair (slide 4), a pin cushion that Eliza made while attending school in London (slide 5) and other objects that are rarely on exhibit. Due to the extremely fragile nature of the dress, it will not be on display again soon, so do not miss this opportunity to see it in person! [Images 1, 2, 3 courtesy of the Charleston Museum.] #theaccidentalpreservationist

More divine views from St. Michael’s – thanks to @rchadstewart and @charlestonmuseum for arranging this visit! #theaccidentalpreservationist

It was a bit blustery, but the view from St. Michael’s Church was divine…. #theaccidentalpreservationist

Mindful of the discussion that @tomsavage1775 moderated with @michaeldiazgriffith, @jeffrey_t_ricketts, and @carolinabarryberry at Antiques Forum this year about encouraging a love of history and objects in young people, I accepted @hannah.salters’ invitation to speak to her fourth-grade class at @fbschool. I did this with a significant amount of trepidation since I know absolutely nothing about talking to fourth graders. So, for the past few weeks, I relentlessly quizzed my friends with children of any age for insight on how best to proceed. I am pleased, and yes, more than a little relieved, to report that the visit was great fun. The class was enthusiastic and had lots of questions. A special mention goes to the young lady who asked me if I was an archaeologist – thanks to friends @marthazierden8 and @sarahstroudclarke, I apparently sound like one (at least to fourth graders). Many, many thanks to my friends for the help and moral support and special thanks to fifth grader Iris for suggesting that I talk about a great adventure – it certainly has been and continues to be one here at the Chancognie House and beyond. Thanks to @hannah.salters for the opportunity, I had a blast! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Instagram

With all of the rain that we have had recently, I was not surprised to find an array of artifacts in the yard here at the Chancognie House. Fragments of ceramics and glass, as well as nails and the occasional vintage Lego all bubble up to the surface after a good rainfall. This slide bolt was quite a surprise, however, especially since it appears to match the hardware on the original first floor panel shutters of the house. This is why I am always walking around the yard around looking down! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Yes, the peaches at the Chancognie House are delicious! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Thanks to the @charlestonmuseum and @ginnytheerman for the sneak preview of Eliza Lucas Pinckney’s c.1753 robe à la française gown that will be on display May 13 through July 9. This “dress in the French style” was popular among upper class Western European women in the 1720s through the 1780s and features a narrow bodice with a full skirt. Eliza (1722-93) worked to introduce sericulture to South Carolina, but this dress was not likely made from silk that she produced. Silk production was never a great success in colonial America, although Eliza was able to produce enough silk to have some fabric produced. A dress from her own silk exists in the collection of the Smithsonian and a scrap of that South Carolina produced silk is in the collection of the Museum and on display here. There is documentation of Eliza gifting a dress from her own silk to Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales as well as fabric to fellow botany enthusiast the Earl of Stanhope. While similar dresses from this time period exist in collections, it is an exceptionally rare Southern example and very unique in that so much is known about its history. Family history indicates that the dress in the Museum’s collection was worn by Eliza when she met Augusta in the fall of 1753. The dress is a quite a survivor – see slide three for an undated image of the dress being worn by one of Eliza’s descendants. In addition to the dress, there is a pair of cuff links made for Eliza’s son Thomas after her death with locks of her hair (slide 4), a pin cushion that Eliza made while attending school in London (slide 5) and other objects that are rarely on exhibit. Due to the extremely fragile nature of the dress, it will not be on display again soon, so do not miss this opportunity to see it in person! [Images 1, 2, 3 courtesy of the Charleston Museum.] #theaccidentalpreservationist

More divine views from St. Michael’s – thanks to @rchadstewart and @charlestonmuseum for arranging this visit! #theaccidentalpreservationist

It was a bit blustery, but the view from St. Michael’s Church was divine…. #theaccidentalpreservationist

Mindful of the discussion that @tomsavage1775 moderated with @michaeldiazgriffith, @jeffrey_t_ricketts, and @carolinabarryberry at Antiques Forum this year about encouraging a love of history and objects in young people, I accepted @hannah.salters’ invitation to speak to her fourth-grade class at @fbschool. I did this with a significant amount of trepidation since I know absolutely nothing about talking to fourth graders. So, for the past few weeks, I relentlessly quizzed my friends with children of any age for insight on how best to proceed. I am pleased, and yes, more than a little relieved, to report that the visit was great fun. The class was enthusiastic and had lots of questions. A special mention goes to the young lady who asked me if I was an archaeologist – thanks to friends @marthazierden8 and @sarahstroudclarke, I apparently sound like one (at least to fourth graders). Many, many thanks to my friends for the help and moral support and special thanks to fifth grader Iris for suggesting that I talk about a great adventure – it certainly has been and continues to be one here at the Chancognie House and beyond. Thanks to @hannah.salters for the opportunity, I had a blast! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

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