: The Charleston Museum Institute will offer a symposium focusing
on the unique ceremonial and sacred treasures of Charleston's
churches and synagogues. The symposium, scheduled for October
15-17, is being conducted in conjunction with the museum's
special exhibition, "Sterling Faith: 300 Years of Charleston's
Sacred Silver."
Symposium presentations encompass historical Charleston
ecclesiastical silver and architecture, South Carolina
silversmiths and Southern religious traditions. Participants will
also learn the latest techniques in silver conservation from a
Charleston silversmith and explore Charleston churches and
synagogues via a National Trust walking tour.
The "Sterling Faith" exhibit, focusing on unique ceremonial and
sacred treasures never before exhibited publicly, will run from
June 1 through October 31. Many of the artifacts in the display
depict the fine craftsmanship of South Carolina silversmiths,
including Miles Brewton, Enos Reeves and Hayden & Whilden.
"It will be one of the largest collective displays of ceremonial
and sacred artifacts put together in Charleston and an
interpretation of Southern religious heritage and how it
developed in South Carolina," explained Grahame Long, the
museum's curator of history. "In creating this exhibition, we
have found detailed written records on these pieces and
discovered new aspects of silversmithing in Charleston."
Also of interest will be chalices and flagons from South
Carolina's early parish system, personal menorahs used in private
ceremonies, rare silver communion tokens that survived burning
and looting during the Civil War and the christening cup of
President George Washington from the museum's nationally
acclaimed Loeblein Gallery of Charleston Silver.
The Charleston Museum, founded in 1773, is America's first
museum. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Holding the
most extensive collection of South Carolina cultural and
scientific collections in the nation, it also owns two National
Historic Landmark houses, the 1772 Heyward-Washington House, and
the Joseph Manigault House, 1803, as well as the Dill Sanctuary,
a 580-acre wildlife preserve.
Registration for the symposium - $175 for museum members and $195
for nonmembers - includes all lectures, admission into the museum
and its two historic houses, Friday night reception, coffee
breaks/snacks, a walking tour and a Charleston Museum tote bag.
The Charleston Museum is at 360 Meeting Street. For
information, or 843-722-2996, ext 235.
