Louvered Blinds

A craftsman hangs window weights at Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's villa retreat in Bedford County. The exterior louvered blinds had both aesthetic and practical value. The blinds protected expensive window glass from damage; in addition, the horizontal slats blocked the sun's heat while permitting air to circulate into the room. The original blinds were constructed by John Hemmings, an enslaved joiner and cabinetmaker from Monticello.