The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-02-15
NEW YORK,S FINEST DWELLINGS.
De,crIp,ion Of William II. Fundcrbi't--
Now Residence on Fifth Avenue.

v VI ~
A De,crIp,ion OF William II. Vundcrbi't--
New Residence on Finh Avenue.
Mr.. Vanderbilt's new house is the
most elegant private residence, inside
and outside, in New York city. The
hnildipe comprises three houses. A
central porch divides the building into
two sections. The south section is MIR.
Vanderbilt's own residence. 1t is eighty
four feet front by 115 feet deep, and
four stories in height. The north sec.
ton is seventy-four feet front by loo
feet deep, and is divided into two
houses.
The houses are of brown stone, IN the
style of the Greek Renaissance. There
is great wealth of carving at many
poists, chiefly designs of trailing vines:
A broad path leads up to the central
corridor. The walls OF he corridor are
OF African marble, and the floor is OF
mosaic. The doors opening to the
right and left are bronze, set with
Scriptural medallions. They are copies
of the Ghiberti gates at Florence, and
thew cost $40, 600. They open to the
left on a vestibule from which three
bronze doors open, 4 into the
main hall and two into recep-
ton rooms at the sides. The
hall extends the full height of the
house. Eight red marble pillars with
bronze capitals support galleries on
each floor, which lead to the living
rooms. It is lighted By nine large
stained glass windows. The walls are
wainscoted with carved English oak
twelve feet high, and opposite the en-
trance is a mantelpiece OF red marble
and bronze. 1t reaches to the first
gallery, and has on each side two life
size female figures in high relief. The
door to the east Of the hall OPP ms on
the drawing-rcom. The walls are Gov
cred with carved woodwork inlaid with
mother of-pearl, and, in the panels, are
hung with pale red velvet, on which are
embroideries of flowers and foliage. At
the side of each door are columns OF
onyx with brouzs capitals, bearing
vases of stained glass ard clusters OF
lights. In the corners are Other clus:
ters, upheld by female figures of SOLID
silver. The ceiling is of blue and gold,
but will eventually be covered by paint.
ings by Gallaud. The dimensions of
the room are twenty-five by %thirty-one
feet. GilGed and carved sliding doors
draped with rich curtains give access
on the north to the library, and on the
south to the japanese parlor. In the
library the bookcases, mantels and
doors are of rosewood, inlaid with
mother. of-peaIl and brass. The ceiling
is set with panels containing small
square mirrors. The dimensions of the
library are seventeen by twenty six feet.
A door on the west opens on MIR. Van
derbilt's private reception-room, where
the walls are wainscoted with ma.
hopany, and above that covered with
stamped leather. :.
In the japanese parlor the ceiling is
Of bamboo, pricked out with red' green
and yellow lacquer work. A low-toned
tapestry Of Japanese uncut velvet IN
curious designs covers the walls and
the furniture. The lower part OIL the
walls are hidden by a fantastic cabinet,
with innumerable pigeonholes, shelves
and %cupboards. At various points are
bronze panels, picked out in gold and
silver. The Dimensions are the same as
the library.
70 the west is the dining room,
twenty. eight feet wide by thirty-seven
feet long. 1t is wainscoted in English
oak, and above, supported on brackets,
are glass-faced cases holding the silver,
porcelain and glass. The gilded pan
els of the arched ceiling are filled with
carvings of fruits and foliage, and the
spaces With paintings of hunting scenes
by Luminais, of Paris. The furniture
is OF English oak with brass ornaments,
and covered with s'amred leather.
The great picture gallery is to the
west of the main hall and occupies the
entire rear of the building. The di-
mansions are thirty-two feet by forty.
eight. The ceiling is thi1ty-ive feet
high ard is c. ;efy formed of a skylieht
in opalescent and tinted glass, loaded
in quaint designs. A monumental man
telpiece of red African marble, with
cone of glass mosaic work, occupies the
western wall. The woodwork of the
room is of black oak, with San Domingo
mahogany fer the c%aryadites and pilas-
tiers. The floor is inlaid with the same
mahogany, and bordered with a mosaic
of Sienna and black marble in the Pom
peiian style. The walls above the vain
scoting are covered with q dark red
tapestry to set off the pictures. Over
the doors on the north, east and south
sides are balconies connecting with the
second story of the house. The n en-
the south opens into the conservatory.
The gallery has a separate entrance
from Fifty-trst street, and the vestibule
is entirely floor, walls and ceiling-of
marble mosaic work, made in Venice.
North of the gallery is the aquarelle
room. This is finished in Circassian
walnut, Moorish style, touched here
and there with bright colors.
TO the right as one enters the main
hall is the wide staircase with bronze
bapisters. The first landing opens on
. gallery which runs around the aquar-
ellie room. On the second floor the
room in the northeast corner is the
family parlor. II is finished in ebony,
inlaid with livery. The walls are o "
cred with Q dark blue silk brocade, and
the ceiling is divided into small panels,
with paintings of children at play.
The next room on Fifth avenue is Mrs.
Vanderbilt's bedroom, furnished by
Alard, OF Paris. The walls are of
white marble, hung with silk, and the
ceiling is covered with the painting,
Awakening OF Aurora" by Lefebvre.
The frieze is of rosewood and nahog-
any. The room is t wenty-si1 feet square.
Mr.. Vandcrbilt's room, adjoining, is
finished in rosewood, inlaid with satin
wood. His d~ressing-room is wainscoted
eight feet high in glass opalescent tiles
Of blue, gold and silver tints. and glded
on the backs. The bath tubs and basins
are of mahogany and silver. and are
conceale by sliding plate-glass mirrors.
The large room on Fifty first street is
o library, fitted up in mahogany and
stamped leather. The bedroom in.
terded for Miss Leila, now Mrs. Webb,
is fitted with rosewood, inlaid with
mother-of.poarl. The mirrors are
painted with an imitation of lacework
through which children's heads peep.
Between six hundred and seven hun.
bred men we're employed for q year and
q half on the interior decorations.
Sixty sculptors were bought from
Europe and kept at work Tor two years.
The total cos, including the furniture,
is said to have been three million dol
Lars.
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