A multipurpose ax that was used for digging, clearing and breaking ground. According to Mrs. Gold, it was used in Mount Pleasant before saws and machines were available to clear land to plant crops. The long side was used for hewing trees or bushes and the short side for cutting tree roots.
Untitled oil painting depicting a sailing vessel led by a tugboat. A buoy appears in the forefront and a city is visible in the background. Back of framed image reads "To our Friends The Sanfords; Xmas 1927; Elise and Teddy Harleston."
Framed oil portrait of Thomas Miller, African American lawyer, politician, and educator who was a South Carolina legislator, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and first President of South Carolina State College (formerly the Colored Normal Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina).
Framed oil painting, "Shrimp Vendor," depicting an African American man with a tray of shrimp walking by a house with iron fence and balcony, typical of Charleston homes.
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.
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.
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."
Sweetgrass magazine tray with cross handle. Tray is made of sweetgrass, bulrush, and pine needles sewn with palmetto leaf. Tray is accented with pine knot decorations.
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.
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.
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.