Lexington County Museum's Artifact of the Week: Sept. 23-29

This week's artifact is a ca. 1855 Hallet, Davis, and Co. square piano.  Given to the museum by Mrs. Alex Bouknight, it was owned by the donor's great uncle Billy Bowen and the donor's grandparents Emma Stuart and Benjamin Leonard.  They lived between Woodruff and Fountain Inn in the upper part of the state.  Although this particular piano was not used in Lexington, pianos such as this one would have been found in some homes in the county. 

The address listed for Hallet, Davis, and Co. inside the piano helps date the piano as the company only resided there for a few years.  Although it is sometimes impossible to find out when an object was made, clues such as the address of the maker can help narrow the date range.  The piano is also in the empire style popular in America in the early to mid-nineteenth century.

See this artifact and more at the Lexington County Museum. Visit www.lex-co.sc.gov/museum for more information.