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Conservation Efforts @ the Aiken-Rhett House, c. 1820
Efforts are underway to preserve the historic wallpaper and extensive textiles collections at the historic Aiken-Rhett House.
Supported through a grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, staff are using new ways to properly care for the Aiken-Rhett collection of period floor coverings. Among these textiles are about 50 sections of 19th century grass floor matting and carpets formerly used the Aiken-Rhett family. In the spring, slaves removed the heavy woven carpets and tacked decorative grass mats to the floor in anticipation of Charleston’s hot summer months. Tack marks in the original heart-pine floors are still visible, and many of the mats, imported from Asia in strips and then sewn together, retain their vibrant colors.
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Stainless steel, conservation-safe pins to stabilize the historic 1850s wallpaper at the Aiken-Rhett House. This stop-gap stabilization method will help keep the wallpaper adhered to the plaster so that we do not experience further loss of this precious document until further funding is available. |
HCF's curatorial and museum staffs are cleaning these floor coverings with conservation-safe Nilfisk vacuum cleaners. They are then rolled onto inert tubes, covered, and placed on textile storage racks.
Due to daily wear, the survival rate for original 19th century floor coverings is low, and staff looks forward to making this important collection more accessible to the public and scholars alike.
HCF Executive Director Kitty Robinson thanked the GDC design center for providing the much-needed equipment at a low cost, and in particular, Frances Parker and Jeri Arazie for making this purchase opportunity possible.
Thanks to the Donnelley Foundation and GDC’s generosity, HCF can ensure the preservation of these rare, period textiles for another 150 years!
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Crews move a 300 pound museum-quality storage cabinet up the the three-story, free-flying staircase at the Russell House. This equipment was purchased with funds from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation HCF Storage and Warehouse Reinstallation grant. |
In other conservation efforts, Aiken-Rhett Committee member Meredith Dunnan, provided funds that enabled Studio TKM, a world renowned paper conservation firm, to conduct a condition assessment and develop a long-term conservation program for the 19th century historic wallpapers within the Aiken-Rhett House. Under the direction of T.K. McClintock, chief conservator at Studio TKM, staff stabilized the wall paper throughout the entire house using stainless steal pins and a Mylar backing. This stabilization methods will help keep the wallpaper adhered to the plaster so that we do not experience further loss of this precious document.
HCF staff continues to seek grant or private funding for the wallpaper conservation project. For more information on supporting conservation efforts at the Aiken-Rhett House, contact HCF’s Philanthropy Department at 843-724-8496.
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LOCATION
48 Elizabeth Street, two blocks from the Charleston Visitor Center.
Click the map above for Driving Directions.
RESTORATION UPDATES
2008 MUSEUM SPONSOR
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday - Saturday : 10 a.m. - 5 p.m
Sunday : 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Last tour begins at 4:15 p.m.
Features the only "audio tour" in Charleston
PURCHASE TICKETS
$10 or visit both the Aiken-Rhett House and the Nathaniel Russell House for $16. Tickets may be purchased at either site.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
GIRL SCOUT OPPORTUNITIES
Learn more about earning credits toward your Local Lore Patch.
INFORMATION
Phone: (843) 723-1159
Email: vperry@historiccharleston.org
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