More than any other of the early American Colonists, residents of Charleston, South Carolina enjoyed the luxuries of life. Unfettered by the sumptuary laws passed in New England or by the Quaker commitment to plain living in the middle colonies, 18th century Charlestonians quickly gained their reputations or displays of richness and lavish indulgences of finery. Peter Purry, a traveler to Charleston in 1731, noted the local residents were wealthy possessing “…an abundance of jewelry, clothes, silver, furniture, slaves and very costly houses.”

Besides importing jewelry as well as fashions, Charlestonians regularly patronized a surprising number of local jewelers such as Moreau Sarrazin and John Paul Grimke, who created a variety of fashionable jewelry from the precious gens he imported including diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, amethysts, garnets, and topazes.

On Thursday, March 21st, join The Charleston Museum and Chief Curator Grahame Long for a hands-on, Exclusive Storeroom tour of the Museum’s incredible jewelry collection. Get up close and personal with precious pieces, learn the stores behind them, ask questions and spark conversations! Light refreshments provided. Reservations required.

Date/Time

03/21/2019, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Location

The Charleston Museum
360 Meeting Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29403

Ticketing