Hills & Dales Estate recently received two wonderful gifts from descendants of the Ferrell family. The generosity of these donors allows us to step into the past and enjoy viewing items that were personally owned by the family in the 1800s. Sarah (Sally) Ridley Lane Culpepper of LaGrange, Georgia, the great, great granddaughter of Sarah Ferrell, presented a beautiful silver compote to Hills & Dales Estate. This piece by Bray and Manvel of New York is made from coin silver. It features a scalloped lip with carved faces, hand-hammered swirls and etchings of flowers on the cup. The base is traditional with filigree accents.
Ann Skehan Redding of Penfield, New York, has given Hills & Dales Estate a delicate hand crafted, sterling silver cake knife. The knife was made in 1852 as a wedding gift for Sarah Ferrell’s brother, Mickleberry, (same name as his father, Mickleberry) and his bride Mary Jane Wilkinson. This cake knife is beautifully etched with lily of the valley flowers and a mixture of foliage. Initials and important dates were engraved on the knife’s front and back as it was passed down through many generations. Tradition holds that many of Sarah Ferrell’s relatives, including the original owners of the knife, lived with her in LaGrange from time to time.
The beautiful coin silver compote and the sterling silver cake knife are both on display in the Visitor Center. Shown with these heirlooms is Sarah Ferrell’s creamware butter dish that features a fig leaf and fruit design. Be sure to take a look at these rare family treasures on your next visit to the estate.
