Please note that curators cannot appraise the value of objects.
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You Asked the Curator -- and We Answered!
Beth Thompson from lexington asked:
I just recently received a picture from my grandfather it has Lumen Winter signatrue. I am not sure if it is a print or a painting how can i tell and also it needs to be cleaned how should i go about that? If it needs to be appraised who would you suggest that would not charge and would be local?
You can look at the picture under a magnifying glass and try to see if there is a dot pattern. For example, look at a newspaper photo under a magnifying glass first, then compare the surface of the painting the same way. If it has the same "dot" pattern, then it is surely a print. If not, it could be a different printing process, or an original work of art.
We have a museum road show event on January 17 where appraisers and a conservator will be on hand to answer questions as well. Please take a look at this website for additional information on that.
http://www.scmuseum.org/events/roadshow.aspx
Paul Matheny
Chief Curator of Art
Michelle from Arlington, VA asked:
Years ago I visited the museum and saw a shell gorget from the Pee Dee River area (excavated by Chester DePratter). Is it still on display, and if not, is there a way to take a picture of it?
The artifact in question is still on exhibition. However, it is on loan from a private individual so we do not do photographs of it unless he gives written permission. You are always welcomed to come view it.
Fritz Hamer
Chief Curator of History
Laura Kirk from Lee State Natural Area, Bishopville asked:
Who does the museum's taxidermy? Do you have different taxidermists for mammals and birds?
Many of the taxidermied birds, mammals, and snakes that are in the State Museum collection are relatively old, dating back to the beginnings of the Museum collection in the mid-1970's. We have had little taxidermied since that time, although several taxidermied specimens have been donated to us.
It would depend on the source of the specimen as to who would do the work. If I were to get a call about a specimen from the upstate I would ask the potential donor if there is someone in their area who might be able to do the work for a tax deduction.
Mammals are not a problem to have done, but birds are. Nearly all birds that occur in South Carolina, less the game species, are covered under one or several national laws as to possession. Most taxidermy specialists do not have the necessary permits to possess a particular bird species. For this reason we have not had many done over the last few years.
I hope this answers your question.
Jim Knight
Deborah from Spartanburg asked:
I was curious why the film "Flatliners" with Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, and William Baldwin was not included in the new "Hollywood Comes to South Carolina" exhibit. It was filmed in Spartanburg in the old TB hospital.
I can only surmise that this film was not included because there are so many produced in this state. We could not include everyone so we had to make a selection.
Sorry that we could not include all films.
Fritz Hamer
Chief Curator of History
Robert Weaver from Shaw AFB asked:
I have a blue green bottle with SC Dispensary with a palmetto tree on it. I have only been able to obtain limited info online about. Could you help me? I can e-mail pix if you can tell me where to send it.
You might be served to find Harvey
Teal’s recent study of the dispensary that has a lot about bottles in it. You
should be able to get it through your local library. I don’t have the exact
title of this book but it came out in 2006, as I recall.
Fritz
Hamer
Chief Curator of
History
*Books about the South Carolina Dispensary are available in the Cotton Mill Exchange. Call (803) 898-4967 for more information.
Chip from Thomasville, GA asked:
I'm writing a biography of William Moultrie. Do you have the headgear of either the 1st or 2nd Regiment of the S.C. Continental Line?
In reply to your question we have a reproduction of the 2nd regiment cover. We do not have anything original from the regiment except for the blue color presented to the 2nd regiment a few days after the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.
Fritz Hamer
Chief Curator of History
Elizabeth from Cayce asked:
I'm doing a project for a museum studies class at USC. I was wondering when the two 1907 "boxhead" model Fales & Jenks spinning frames were acquired, and if that was through gift or purchase.
In answer to your "ask a curator" question, the two spinning frames were added to the museum's collection in 1986 as a gift.
Michelle Baker
Chief Registrar
Kim from Bennettsville, SC asked:
Will the dinosaur exhibit ever come back to the SC State Museum? I was able to see it a few years back and would love to take my children to see the exhibit.
We have done 3 different dinosaur exhibits since we started displaying special “blockbuster” type exhibits in 1996.
They have all been very popular, so I am sure we’ll probably do another one sometime in the future, but our exhibit development team hasn’t decided on any dinosaurs for at least a year.
Lisa from Myrtle Beach asked:
With all of the wonderful artists in SC, why is there one artist's work in the Cotton Exchange and everything else MADE IN CHINA?
We try to obtain handmade items from artists throughout the state. Currently there are eight potters represented in our museum store. We have pottery from 3 Columbia potters, 3 Greenville potters, one Landrum potter, and one Pendleton potter. In addition to that we have hand cut and painted gourds from an artist in Blythwood,SC. Also we have sculpture like dolls made by an artist from Daniel Island, SC. Currently we have sweet grass baskets from 2 artists in the Charleston area.
The items that are made in China are souvenir items that many of our tourists desire. We are able to sell them at fairly low prices as they are mass produced.
Scottie Ash
Director of Revenue
Cotton Mill Exchange
Ashley from Rock Hill SC asked:
I understand you have an Anderson car, built in Rock Hill, in your collection. Do you also have an Anderson buggy?
Greetings:
Yes, we have an Anderson buggy in our collection. It is not currently on exhibition.
Fritz Hamer
Chief Curator of History
SC State Museum
Rosemary from Columbia, Maryland asked:
I am conducting research on African-American cemeteries in suburban Washington, DC, dating from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. I am interested in reviewing a publication on a South CArolina State Museum exhibition, The Last Miles of the Way: African-American Homegoing Traditions, 1890-Present, that is referenced in many bibliographies related to African-American burial ground preservation. How many I obtain a copy? Thank you.
Dear Rosemary,
Thank you for your request for a copy of the catalogue, The Last Miles of the Way. It was published in conjunction with an exhibit of the same title and can be purchased in our store, for $10 plus ($5) shipping and handling.
The Cotton Mill Exchange,
SCSM
P.O. Box 100107
Columbia, SC 29202-3107.
* SC residents must add 7% sales tax
Thanks.
Elaine Nichols
Curator of History