Victoria here. In 2013, I was delighted to have the opportunity to explore the newly installed collection of early American furniture in D.C.’s National Gallery of Art (the post is here). A few weeks ago, I went back for another visit. Historical fiction writer Diane Gaston and I love browsing through the galleries — almost as much as we enjoy our luncheon in the charming Garden Café. In the distant background is the Gallery of the Kaufman Collection, which had to wait until we were well nourished.
Vicky and Diane
Desk and Bookcase, Pair of Sidechairs
Philadelphia, 1755-1771, Mahogany Glass, Brass
Philadelphia was the leading city of pre-revolutionary America. Colonial furniture makers followed the pattern books of leading English designers such as Thomas Chippendale. Many immigrant craftsmen came to the colonies, and fine imported goods arrived to serve the tastes and growing wealth of leading families. At the top of the desk is a mahogany bust “believed” to be of Catherine Macaulay (1731-1791), a renowned historian and author who “was a great supporter of American liberty.” (from the gallery label)
High Chest, Philadelphia 1750-65
Mahogany and sabicu (a hardwood imported from the West Indies); brass
Makers of furniture in various cities of colonial America had their own versions of the English models, with a variety of distinctive characteristics and decoration that enables experts to immediately identify the city of origin of many pieces.
Chest-in-Chest, Providence, 1775-85
Mahogany and Brass
The Providence style is similar to the characteristics of the Newport style. Here is the major difference: the “convex shells on the top drawer of the lower case are carved from the solid drawer front, rather than separately carved and applied. The original owner of this chest was the Providence merchant John Brown (1736-1893) who founded Brown University with his three brothers.”
Ann Barry, 1803-05 by Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755-1828)
Oil on Canvas
Pair of Covered Vases, Jingdozhen, China 1790-1810’=
Hard-paste porcelain
Card Table, signed ad dated by Robert McGuffin (1779/80-after 1863)
Philadelphia 1807
Satinwood and veneers
After the Revolutionary War, styles gradually evolved into what Americans call the Federal Style, based on the increased use of ancient Greek and Roman designs by Europeans. The somewhat simpler lines of the furniture are more neo-classical than rococo.
Knife Box, one of a pair
American 1785-1815
mahogany and veneers with wood inlay; silver
The photo above is included for the special enjoyment of Kristine Hughes. Victoria and Diane are well acquainted with Kristine’s admiration for the myriad knife boxes she finds on her travels.
Side Chair, designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe (1764-1820)
decorated by George Bridport (1783-1819)
Philadelphia 1808
Poplar and Maple, gesso, paint, and gold leaf; cane seat
Worktable, Boston 1815-1825Rosewood and veneers; bras; ormolu
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Used for sewing and needlework
National Gallery of Art West Building
Until next year!!
DOWNTON ABBEY
When we visit Highclere Castle on Thursday, September 11, 2014, we will probably be thinking more of Downton Abbey, the PBS Masterpiece series, than of the sumptuous home of the Earls of Carnarvon. Victoria here, as eager to see the Castle/Abbey as anyone. I truly believe that a large part of the credit for DA’s success in America is due to the setting at Highclere Castle: The grounds, the enormous house designed in the most extravagant of Victorian neo-Gothic style, the magnificent interiors of the family’s drawing rooms and bedchambers, the stark simplicity and dullness of the servants’ world below stairs. The contrasts could not be more vivid.
Downton Abbey, PBS Masterpiece
The Crawley family, headed by Robert, Earl of Grantham (High Bonneville), live at the fictional Downton Abbey, filmed at Highclere Castle, the home of the Earls of Carnarvon. Most of the upstairs scenes are filmed in the rooms of the Abbey or on the grounds. The servants quarters have been recreated as they would have been in 1900 to 1930 at studies on nearby Ealing, West London. In this 4-minute video, creator and writer Julian Fellowes takes you through Highclere. Click here.
Another look at Highclere as Downton Abbey is an 8-minute fragment of the program Countrywise visit. Click here
As almost every one knows, Downton Abbey has been a phenomenal success with audiences in Britain and North America, and elsewhere. The four years of the series have won numerous awards for its creator, Julian Fellowes, for its costumes and settings, and for the actors, some of whom have become “household names.” Probably taking first place would be Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, whose pithy comments delight audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Click here to see some favorite moments.
The Inimitable Maggie Smith As Violet, Dowager Lady Grantham
We’ve seen four seasons of Downton Abbey now, and all the episodes are available on DVD and from PBS and other sources. The fifth season is in production and will be seen in the U.K. in the autumn and on PBS Masterpiece in early 2015.
©Nick Briggs/Carnival Film and Television Limited 2013 for MASTERPIECE
Click here for a 13-minute video on the making of Downton Abbey, featuring many of the actors as well as the executive producer, writer, and historical advisor among others.
Although we’ve all seen the fourth season, you might enjoy the preview, a tease of just 90 seconds, put out before it played. Click here.
So to stand in Highclere Castle yourself, come along with us on The Duke of Wellington Tour. September 4-14, 2014. All the details are here.
See you in London!