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coverlets of Ridgely family provenance. The carpet for the Master Bedchamber should
be a Brussels or Scotch ingrain, based on documentation.

Furniture on the second story, for the most part, is not of Ridgely provenance, although
at least one piece in each chamber was used at Hampton. Several other objects here,
however, are similar to the ones listed in bills or receipts, or in family inventories.

The late 18th century mahogany high post bed is English, as is the beautifully veneered
and inlaid dressing table. A Hampton dressing table of this type is still owned by a family
member.

The rare Federal period night table, which belonged to Charles Carnan Ridgely, is
one of two in the Hampton collections. The appearance of these night tables is decep-
tive: the tops lift and the doors swing inward to reveal a commode. These sophisticated
examples of a necessary convenience are closely related to a plate in George Hepplewhite's
The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, published in 1794.

The wardrobe, an essential furnishing for homes of this period (which did not have
closets in the bedchambers) is another elegant example of the Federal era. This mahogany
and satinwood "wing" wardrobe was made in Baltimore between 1800 and 1820, proba-
bly in the shop of William Camp. Its decorative impact is made through the geometric
contrast of color and shapes. The center section contains drawers which slide out for
easy access.

Upholstered easy chairs, now called wing chairs, were a form usually reserved for use
in bedchambers. Designed for comfort and to protect the sitter from draughts, this par-
ticular example, American, c.1800, was originally a commode chair, with a chamber pot
under the seat. It is upholstered in wool moreen, in the manner prescribed in period draw-
ing books.

The side chair at the desk has an important history. It is one of a set of chairs attributed
to Thomas Affleck which was made for the Chew family of "Cliveden" in Philadelphia.
The Chews, Ridgelys and Howards intermarried in several generations, and one of the
Chews inherited this chair which found its way to Hampton. The Ridgelys altered the
chair in the 19th century to make a rocker, but the chair has been restored to its original
appearance. The remaining chairs from the set are exhibited at Cliveden.

The painting over the mantel is a copy of a portrait of Priscilla Dorsey Ridgely
(1762-1814), painted by Rembrandt Peale. The original was donated by the Ridgelys
for use at the Governor's Mansion in Annapolis.

Northwest Bedchamber

This room, known by later members of the family as the "white curtain room," was one
of the principal guest bedchambers. In the latter part of the 19th century, the window
treatments here were heavy white wool curtains with deep red fringe, hung under elaborate
leaf carved and gilded cornices.

Retaining its original room size, the carpet in this chamber is a significant survival of
Hampton provenance, one of several Turkey carpets ordered by John and Eliza Ridgely.

Although they were going out of fashion by the second quarter of the 1800s, high post
beds were prevalent at Hampton during the entire period of Ridgely occupancy. In later
photographs, however, they were not draped with hangings. The mahogany high post beds
in this bedchamber are of Ridgely provenance.