The remarkable Corbit-Sharp House in Odessa is considered the finest example of Georgian architecture in Delaware. In this Virtual Tour, explore the house and collection with Debbie Buckson, Executive Director of the Historic Odessa Foundation.
William Corbit, a Quaker and a tanner, commissioned architect Robert May to build the home in 1772-74, and the house stayed in the Corbit family until 1938. Knowledge of the site and the Corbit family is richly informed by building and business records, the architect’s invoice, and an inventory taken in 1818 at the time of William Corbit’s death. Beyond the exquisite architecture, the site boasts a superb collection of important decorative arts representative of the region’s craft traditions, much of which were owned by Corbit and his descendants, including furniture by notable 18th-century cabinetmaker John Janvier. Debbie shares a range of marvelous objects, including a Janvier-made chest of drawers that is inspiring continued research and investigation.
The mission of the Decorative Arts Trust, a non-profit organization, is to promote and foster the appreciation and study of the decorative arts.
