CHARLESTON SILVER
Until the outbreak of the Civil War, Charleston, South Carolina was one of the wealthiest cities in America. The production and export of crops such as rice, indigo, and cotton allowed the city’s merchants and planters to amass immense fortunes. With their great affluence, they built grand houses and furnished them with lavish goods. Consequently, the prosperous seaport became a refuge for artisans of diverse talents who produced extraordinary works. Among them were a number of excellent silversmiths. While many of Charleston’s silversmiths received training or inspiration from England, they came from varying backgrounds and their ethnic diversity brought an abundance of trans-European styles and tastes to “The Holy City.”
