Study
Edward Hand used this room for his study. It also functioned as his business office and, probably on occasion, his medical office. Although Hand no longer practiced medicine on a regular basis at this time in his life, he surely had occasion to use his skills when a family member or farm worker became sick or injured.
At the time of his death in 1802, Hand was educating his son, Jasper, in the medical profession. The medical books, instruments and mahogany doctor’s cabinet suggest this process. On the table between the windows are items used by persons in the medical profession during the 1700’s, such as glass measuring beakers, a bleeder and case, scalpels and surgeons’ knives, a medical box with flip top and wings for bottles of medicine, and a “dosage spoon,” made of horn as well as one of Hand’s personal medical books.
The highlight of the room is the Chippendale figural maple slant lid secretary desk made in Lancaster circa 1800.
The inventory listed a ten-plate stove. These stoves were of Germanic design and were far more efficient giving off more heat than either an open fireplace or the Franklin-style inserts.
The framed pictures of skeletons posed in lifelike activities are from a French encyclopedia from the period called “Diderot’s.”
The box on the windowsill is a cellaret that holds bottles of wine or whiskey.
The taper jacks on each desk were devices used for melting sealing wax. The continuous coil of wax was lifted or raised up through the hole on top and lighted.
In the corner is a “lounge chair” with a very long seat that is a Hand family artifact and was reputedly made to accommodate General Hand’s 6 foot 4 inch frame. Its place of origin is unknown. It is now covered in a reproduction checked fabric.
In the cupboard by the window are a number of books (some owned by the Hand family) whose titles were listed in the inventory of 1802. The storage of books in the cupboard in the fireplace wall helped to keep them drier and free from mildew.
