Historic Trades

The Historic Trades section is for original articles on and videos of the everyday objects made or used in the early South, on those trades people who produced these objects, and on the consumers of these objects. This section covers a wide range of subjects from longrifles and

accessories, to quilts, to knives, swords, and axes, to mundane wrought nails, to everything else in common use.

*Please be aware that some of these articles are in .pdf format and may take some time to load. If your computer times out, just refresh and give it time to load properly. Enjoy!

Notice To Readers

The Edenton Historical Commission supports and encourages research on the decorative arts and material culture of the Albemarle region from diverse points of view. Research in this rich area is fruitful and ongoing. The articles published on this website represent the research of the individual authors and not the official opinions of the Commission.

The images and content of articles published on this website may be downloaded for limited personal use. However, the images and content of articles published on this site may NOT be downloaded for distribution to others, for advertising, for other commercial purposes, or for publication without the expressed written permission from the authors. For permission, contact Editors at this email: [email protected]. 

 

2013

Hand Wrought Nails

 That Rusty Object – Is It Wrought Iron or Steel?

2014

The Kentucky Rifle

2015

Blades in Virginia and North Carolina – From Stones to Steel

French Swords For Virginia 1779, Redux

A Tidewater, Virginia, Quilt with Shenandoah Valley Connections

2016

Gun Hammers vs. Button Hole Cutters

2018

Hunting Bags (part 1)

Hunting Bags (part 2)

Hunting Bags (part 3)

Brass Candlesticks

Found In The Wall Of An Old House

2019

Martin Noxon: Silversmith, Jeweler, Clock and Watchmaker of Edenton, NC

2020

Leopold Paul Unger; A Nineteenth Century Southern Itinerant Portrait Artist

Thomas F. Noone: A Little Known Southern Portrait Artist

Edward Beyer’s View of Edenton, NC

What Is It?

Ember Tongs – a sketch

Elizabeth McGee Breazeale, A Forgotten North Carolina Artist

2021

An Eastern North Carolina, Native American, Canoe Outrigger?

2022

Rappa’ Forge Posnet?

“…beat their swords into plowshares…” – Corn Knives and Sickles

Charles Fortee of London: Edenton’s First Master Builder