The Charleston Museum's Heyward-Washington House will host furniture focus tours on March 18 & 19 at 4:00 p.m. and March 20th at 10:00 a.m.
Visitors are invited to study the significant 18th century English and Charleston-made furniture collection housed here. Learn about Charleston cabinetmakers, locally-harvested and imported wood, and the strong influence of Thomas Chippendale.
Reservations are not required. Admission is $10/adult and $5/child (free for Charleston Museum members). 87 Church Street. For more information, please call 722-2996 ext. 235 or visit www.charlestonmuseum.org. Please note: the furniture focus tours are not available to tour groups.
The highlight of the collection at the Heyward-Washington House is the priceless Holmes Bookcase (pictured above). It is considered to be the finest example of American-made furniture in existence today. The house boasts one of only three complete triple chests (pictured left) in America. The collection also features numerous pieces attributed to Charleston cabinetmaker Thomas Elfe, including a mirrored secretary (pictured below left), a double chest owned by William Washington and a breakfast table and chairs. Among the more functional pieces in the collection is a Windsor chair that porportedly belonged to Revolutionary War General Francis Marion.
