Salt-glazed border tiles made from kiln-fired red clay, used to line walkways and gardens. Made by slave labor on a plantation near Hickory Hill, South Carolina. Four tiles exist in the collection, two of each shown here.
Copper slave badge, square in shape, reading "Charleston 20 Servant 1823." Under the date, a stamp reads "LAFA," signifying the maker, John Joseph Lafar.
Multiple views of a circular, flat sweetgrass basket with a handle made of pine needles wrapped in palmetto leaves; basket contains accents of pine needles throughout and artist has incorporated decorative pine knots; center of basket contains a combination of sweetgrass, pine needles, and bulrush, sewn with palmetto leaf; label on back reads "HAND MADE BY Ida Mae Bennett."
Multiple views of a hanging wall pocket made of sweetgrass and pine needles sewn with palmetto leaf; signature on bottom reads "Martha Manigault 2006."
Oval sweetgrass basket with seven sets of pine knots (called "love knots") which are visible only from the outside; basket is accented with rows of pine needle; also contains bulrush; sewn with palmetto leaf; bottom reads "Anne Scott 2006."
Front and interior views of a coiled basked made of sweetgrass, pine needle, and bulrush, sewn with palmetto leaf. Domed lid has a knob and is decorated with pine knots. Lid is connected by a hinge on one side and contains a protruding piece that fits into a loop on the other side, securing it when closed.
Multiple views of a sweetgrass sewing basket with handles on a pedestal base; lid has open nipple and is decorated with six pine knots; basket contains some rows of pine needles and is sewn with palmetto leaves.
Smoothly finished art pottery piece with predominantly orange and green coloration. Heart-shaped jar, orange with green and black spots. Smooth finish. Jar stopper designed as a woman without facial features wearing a gele (headtie) and two green earrings.
Five dollar bill issued by the Farmers & Exchange Bank of Charleston and dated September 28, 1853. Bill depicts an African American tending to a wagon pulled by oxen. Engraved by Toppan, Carpenter, Kasilear & Company, Philadelphia and New York.
Coiled, oblong fruit basket with cross handle made of sweetgrass, bulrush, and pine needle, sewn with palmetto leaf. This basket was created by a left-handed artist, visually evident by the slant of the palmetto leaf wraps. The wraps in a right-handed basket typically slant to the left, while the wraps in this basket slant to the right.
Chair made by slaves from Ridgley Plantation near Florence, South Carolina. The chair is made with mortise and tenon joints reinforced with square nails. The seat is of animal skin. Evidence that the legs of the chair have been shortened indicates that it was a slave's chair. Slaves were not permitted to sit higher than the master or his children.
Five dollar Confederate greenback issued on February 17, 1864 and redeemable two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States of America and the United States of America. Printed by Evans & Cogswell in Charleston, South Carolina and engraved by Keatinge & Ball of Columbia, South Carolina.
Ten dollar Confederate greenback issued on February 17, 1864 and redeemable two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States of America and the United States of America. Printed by Evans & Cogswell in Charleston, South Carolina and engraved by Keatinge & Ball of Columbia, South Carolina.
Pewter slave badge produced for a servant in Charleston, S.C. It was common to counterfeit badges to avoid paying taxes, and this particular one was not issued by the city, but created in the stamped year. The face is stamped "Charleston 1862 Servant #4." Back side contains no markings.
Copper slave badge, square in shape. Face is stamped "Charleston 1840 Servant 1869." 1840 is the year produced and 1869 signifies that it was the 1,869th "servant" badge sold that year.
Thick coiled rice fanner made of bulrush fastened with palmetto leaf. Although this is a contemporary basket, it is a very old form; few basketmakers use bulrush today because it is extremely tough to work.
Thick coiled round basket of bulrush fastened with palmetto leaf. Although this is a contemporary basket, it is a very old form; few basketmakers use bulrush today because it is extremely tough to work.
Multiple views of a hinged sweetgrass basket with domed cover, decorated with pine knots and used as a sewing basket. Made with sweetgrass, pine needle, and bulrush sewn with palmetto leaf.
Front and interior views of a miniature basket made of sweetgrass and pine needle sewn with palmetto leaf. Decorative version of a sewing basket with removable lid.
Egg basket made of sweetgrass, bulrush, and pine needle, sewn with palmetto leaf. Cross handle is decorated with pine knots; wall slopes out from flared mouth and in towards bottom.
Front, interior, and profile views of a multi-colored basket made of sweetgrass, bulrush, and pine needle, sewn with palmetto leaf. Sweetgrass is natural and dyed blue, orange, and red. A wrapped hinge is sewn into the bottom for hanging purposes.
Multiple views of an open-toed infant shoe with characteristics of a sandal made of sweetgrass and pine straw, sewn with palmetto leaf. The bow is made of sweetgrass.
Front and interior views of a sewing basket made of sweetgrass, bulrush, and pine needle, sewn with palmetto leaf. Basket has a double handle and a hinge that attaches the cover to the basket. The cover contains a hole for sewing material, typical of a sewing basket. Unstable, poor condition.
Glass server with handles and eight sections for glasses. The center section is open; bottom of tray has open star configuration. Made of sweetgrass and pine needle, sewn with palmetto leaf. Also called a "ring tray."
Full and profile views of a coiled basket, possibly used for fruit, with a cross handle; made with sweetgrass, bulrush and pine needle, sewn with palmetto leaf. Basket is asymmetric and sits extremely crooked in its natural state; this feature has been manually edited somewhat in the images to ease viewing the object.
Coiled decorative sweetgrass wall pocket hanging shaped like a fish with fins and a tail; oval basket attaches to center section. Made of sweetgrass and pine needle sewn with palmetto leaf.
Multiple views of a circular all-purpose sweetgrass basket with decorative sides; contains alternating rows of pine needle and sweetgrass accented with pine knots; sewn with palmetto leaf; distinctive style is known as the "elephant ear" design.
Thick coiled bulrush basket sewn with palmetto leaf; possibly contains oak splits. Although this is a contemporary basket, it is a very old form; few basketmakers use bulrush today because it is extremely tough to work. Unstable base, poor condition.
Snake-shaped wrought iron art object. The eyes are painted red and there are gold painted markings on the body. Forged by Carlton Simmons, Charleston, South Carolina.
Front and interior views of a coiled sewing basket made of bulrush, pine needle, and sweetgrass sewn with palmetto leaf. Basket has two handles and a lid that is decorated with pine knots.