The Museum Collection
Sewing Table from Poe's Boyhood Home
Description:This table originally belonged to Mary Gallego, who lived in the Richmond Mansion "Moldavia" before Poe's foster parents, the Allans, purchased the home. Mrs. Gallego perished in the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811. Mr. Gallego left $2000 in his will for the care of Edgar Allan Poe's sister, Rosalie Mackenzie Poe. After Mr. Gallego's death, Poe's foster father purchased the mansion, which was still partially furnished, and moved there with his wife, her unmarried sister, and Edgar Poe.
This walnut sewing table is supported by a pedestal, which, in turn, is held up by a base elevated by four curving feet. The pedestal contains a small round mirror. The top of the table has a drawer with two brass lion head pulls. Seperate compartments within the drawer were probably used to hold sewing tools.
A label inside a drawer states that the table once belonged to Mary Gallego and that it was purchased by the Poe Shrine, the original name of the Poe Museum.