Rockingham residents can feel the love at Chinqua Penn

From staff reports
Published: July 9, 2008

July is Rockingham County residents’ appreciation month at Chinqua Penn Plantation.

“It just gives the local folks an opportunity to come at a lower price,“ said Amy Huber, tours and events coordinator for Chinqua Penn Plantation. “It’s not our busiest time, so the more local people can come out, the better.“

Rockingham County residents who show their license or identification card will be able to tour Chinqua Penn for $10. That’s half the regular house tour rate of $20 and 33 percent off the senior and student rate of $15. Youth ages 6 to 15 always get in for $10, and children 5 and under tour the mansion for free.

Huber said Chinqua Penn held a residents’ appreciation month in February and decided to have one more this year. She said Chinqua Penn would like to continue to have one or two such events each year.

While at Chinqua Penn, visitors can view the Egyptian exhibit on display in the front hall of the mansion in July and August. The centerpiece of the collection is a 1930s replica of the golden throne chair of King Tutankhamen, the child pharaoh. Jeff and Betsy Penn, original owners of Chinqua Penn, commissioned E. Hautoun of Cairo to reproduce the chair. Only one other replica of the chair was made. The chair is made of teakwood inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl, according to Ann Toler, curator for Chinqua Penn.

Another stunning piece in the collection is an Egyptian faience necklace. According to information provided by Chinqua Penn, Egyptian faience, a ceramic, was produced from about 3500 B.C. until the first century. The Egyptians believed that faience was a “magical substance emanating the brilliance of eternity and the powers of rebirth.“

The exhibit also features Egyptian burial pieces dating back to 1600 B.C. One of the pieces is an Ushwabit, made of carved stone with a turquoise glaze. Egyptians believed magical statues such as the Ushwabit were servants that came to life and performed whatever duty the dead were called upon to do in the afterlife. Other burial pieces in the collection depict High Osiris, the Egyptian god of the underworld; Isis, a sky goddess and a cat. Another piece is an Egyptian copper box circa 1800.

“It’s high copper all over, with turquoise, coral and quartz,“ said Toler.

Other items in the collection are tooled red and brown leather camel seats, an ivory flail, a sterling silver table etched with Egyptian hieroglyphics and a brass candlesnuffer. Toler said the Penns acquired most of the items in their Egyptian collection on a world tour in 1929.

“A lot of the pieces you don’t see on a daily basis, by any means,“ she said. The Penns acquired such an eclectic collection of items from all over the world that Chinqua Penn’s curator has no trouble putting together special exhibits representing different countries.

“Whatever you’re looking for from any given country, you’re bound to find it,“ said Toler. She said Chinqua Penn will have an African exhibit on display during the month of August in the mud room.

Chinqua Penn’s tour hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Chinqua Penn Plantation is at 2138 Wentworth St. in Reidsville.