Department 56 - Taliaferro-Cole Shop

Size: 5.5 x 5.25 x 5

 

Coachmaker Charles Taliaferro purchased property on Duke of Gloucester Street in the early 1770s. He practiced his trade in Williamsburg for more than 30 years. In the early 1800s, Jesse Cole acquired the house and shop next door, where he operated a post office and general store.

 

Today, Colonial Williamsburg's weavers practice their art in the Taliaferro-Cole Shop using 18th-century dye recipes. While no evidence supports weaving as a business in 18th-century Williamsburg, the related trade of dyeing and coloring textiles did exist and required a seven-year apprenticeship. There was a weaver in nearby York County, and many plantations had their own weavers. Most cloth in the period was imported from England, China, and India. Note the intricate Della Robbia fan above the main door.

 

A pineapple, the symbol of hospitality, is surrounded by neat rows of carefully placed apples trimmed with gardenia leaves. The style, Della Robbia, commonly refers to the holiday decor featuring greens that are adorned with bright colored fruits and other natural elements. Apples, oranges, lemons are used most often. Pinecones, berries, seed pods, and even sea shells add to the variety of decor that have come to be associated with Williamsburg. The name Della Robbia comes from the famous family of Italian Renaissance sculptors who often added fruits and plants to their carvings and pieces.

 

Coordinates with: 4018973 Carter Coach