Charleston Symposium Offers Charming Collections and Camaraderie

The Decorative Arts Trust’s Fall 2024 Symposium in South Carolina did not disappoint, offering a robust schedule of tours, lectures, and networking opportunities in the Charleston region.

Pre-Symposium Tour

On Wednesday, November 6, members began the Optional Pre-Symposium Tour with a visit to Charleston’s Wills House. En route to Beaufort, South Carolina’s second-oldest city, participants paused at the ruins of Sheldon Church, constructed 1745–53. Arriving in Beaufort’s historic downtown, travelers enjoyed a walking tour, followed by visits to private homes. At the 1805–20 Robert Means House (the home of Catherine and Wallace Scarborough), we explored a fascinating ceramics and archeology collection, composed of objects found underground throughout the historic property lines. The ​​c. 1815 Captain Edward Barnwell House (the home of Elizabeth Enloe and Geddes Dowling) featured excellent paneled rooms with Neoclassical mantels and woodwork. The group convened for a reception at the Cuthbert Inn overlooking the scenic and serene Beaufort River.

Thursday morning began with tours of the 1804 John Mark Verdier House, a prominent Neoclassical mansion operated by the Historic Beaufort Foundation, and the Elizabeth Barnwell-Gough House (the home of Melinda and Derek Beres), a striking late 19-century two-story home constructed of tabby. Lunch was served at The Oaks, the mid-19th-century home of Alison and Mark Guilloud which boasts the only cupola roof in Beaufort. The group continued to the c. 1853 Tidalholm (the home of Katie Cunningham Tashjian and John Tashjian), made famous by the 1983 film The Big Chill, and the Elizabeth Hext House or Riverview (the home of Darryl and Lucius Laffitte), with construction date suggestions ranging from 1720 to 1815. Members then returned to Charleston to prepare for Opening Night!

Main Symposium in the Holy City

The Jonathan L. Fairbanks Lecture, Tom Savage’s High Times in the Low Country, kicked off the Symposium’s Opening Night on Thursday, November 7, as he shared stories of his career in Charleston and beyond. Participants then traveled to the 1748–52 Drayton Hall for a Grand Illumination and Festival in the historic forecourt pleasure garden with the paired buildings and colonnades temporarily reconstructed and brilliantly illuminated, thanks to Ralph Harvard, Will Hiley, Kanin Clark, and Tom Podhrazsky. The Trust is grateful for the generosity of Brunk Auctions for their sponsorship!

Friday, November 8, began with Louis Nelson, PhD’s lecture about the architecture of Charleston before 1740 and Harlan Greene’s lecture about the Synagogues of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim. The remainder of the day was devoted to notable sites in Charleston, beginning with an expert-led walking tour that included the 1752–61 St. Michael’s Church, the 1845 French Huguenot Church,  the 1838 St. Philip’s Church, and much more. After lunch, members continued to the c. 1810 Simon Jude Chancognie House (home of Trust member Juliana Falk) for insights into ongoing research and restorations, and the c. 1800 Gaillard-Bennett House and Garden (home of Diane and Peter Horan) with its incredible renovation and enviable triple lot. In the evening, our members at the Sponsor level and above enjoyed a reception at Bessie Hanahan’s lovely home.

On Saturday, November 9, Brian Turner’s morning lecture about the Preservation Society of Charleston gave us context into the many properties seen during the Symposium and the city’s long legacy of protecting its historic fabric. Participants continued to three exceptional house tours: the c. 1743 George Mathews House (home of Cindy and Ben Lenhardt) which featured outstanding gardens and decor; the c. 1843 William C. Gatewood House (home of Sarah and Ozey Horton) with stunning hardwood floors, plaster cornice molding, window and door surrounds, marble mantels, and plaster ceiling medallions; and the c. 1778 Smith, DeSaussure and Darrell Building (home of Debbie and Neil Fisher), a merchant house and shop converted into an elegant residence and garden in what is today known as Rainbow Row. Lunch on the triple piazza of the 19th-century home of Nancy and Scott Santi was a true delight, and then the group continued to the Gibbes Museum of Art for curator-led tours of its decorative arts, miniatures, and Charleston Renaissance collections. The evening’s Emerging Scholars Program Fundraiser was hosted at the home of Kelly and Randy Schrimsher.

Sunday morning featured four lectures about Charleson culture. Charlotte Crabtree presented the James A. Sanders Lecture, A Feminine Touch: Women in Charleston’s Silver Industry, and Sarah Platt, PhD delivered the John A. H. Sweeney Emerging Scholar Lecture, Unearthing the Old City: Archaeology of the 17th Century at the Heyward-Washington House and Beyond. Malika N. Pryor from Charleston’s new International African American Museum lectured about African Routes: the Lasting Impact of the Diaspora in the Lowcountry, and Chad Stewart’s Marie Zimmermann Emerging Scholar Lecture examined The Renewed Vision of the Charleston Renaissance. Members celebrated a successful symposium, as some prepared to continue to the Sunday afternoon optional tour!

Post-Symposium Tour in Georgetown

The Post-Symposium Tour focused on Georgetown, the third oldest city in South Carolina, following Charleston and Beaufort. A scrumptious lunch in the historic downtown was followed by visits to visits to the mid-18th-century Kaminski House with an impressive collection and gorgeous river views, the 1739 Jane Scott House (home of Kevin Jayroe) featuring an eclectic private collection, and the 1740–55 Prince George Winyah Church, a remarkable brick structure with a distinctive octagonal tower and centuries-old graffiti in some pews. A guided walking tour through downtown led members to a reception of cocktails and conversation at the George Hotel, overlooking the Winyah Bay.

South Carolina definitely welcomed us with southern hospitality! See Instagram for more images, and YouTube for the full playlist of lecture recordings.

Visit our calendar of events for upcoming programs, and sign up for our email list to receive updates. Members at the Ambassador level and above receive advance registration benefits.