Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-17
TANDERBTLTs HOUSE.
The Deceased NJ NiIIionaire's Fifth
r Avenue Palace.

Avenue Palace.
New YoRK, Dec. 9.-The house of Mr.
Vanderbilt and that built for his two
daughters, Mrs. Sloane and Mrs. Shepard
are in external appearance much alike
but differ widely in their interior arrange
ments and furnishing. They are oi
brown stone and their architectural style
is of the renaissance. A large vestibult
between gives admission to both houses
but it is only with that of William Fl
that this sketch is concerned. 1t repre
cents an actual outlay of So, 900 900, ire
spective of the superb gallery which il
contains. More than 600 men were EN-
| ployed for year and half on the in
terror decorations, and go sculptors
brought here from Europe were kept al
work the same length of time The worl
of building and furnishing the house
occupied two years, and its completion
within that period was looked upon us an
extraordinary feat
The doors leading from the vestibule
into Mr.. Vanderbilts house are copies, re.
duced in size, of Ghiberti's famous bronze
gates of Florence. They cost 800, 600, and
were exhibited by Barbedienne in thu
Paris Exposition of 1878. Passing through
| these one enters private yestibule from
which three bronze doors give entrance t,
the main hall, small dressing room an,
Mr.. Vanderbilt's private reception room
The hall extends TO the roof of the house
and is surrounded in the upper stories by
galleries leading to the chambers. TIT
sides show high wainseotings of English
oak; square columns of dark red African
marble, with bronze capitals, support the
galleries, and facing the entrance
is fine open fireplace. Carved
oaken benches flank the door on
the eastern side, which leads
to the drawing-room the ceiling
of which is painting by Gallaud Of
Paris. The walls are hung with pale red
velvet, embroidered with designs of foil
age and occasional flowers and butterflies
enriched with cut crystals, suggestive Of
dewdrops. The lights are arranged il
eight vases of stained and jewelled glass
disposed at the corners, at the angles oi
the large east window and at the sides oi
the door. Some of these vases stand OIL
pedestals of onyx with bronze trimmings
while the lights in the corners are backed
by mirrors and rest on black velvet bases
In the library the most striking feature
is the inlaid work. MOther-of pearl ant
brass are inlaid on mahogany and rose
wood in an old Greek pattern. The fur
niture of the room corresponds in design
and decoration with the walls. The cell
| ing is fretted and has rich gilt-work ant
small square mirrors. In the doorway o
the west wall hang heavy curtains, sep
arating the library from Mr.. Vanderbilt
private reception-room, with heavy ma
| xtraittonnfi,NcY o,n1 oatlt,,s, ,,f
hogany and stamped leather. A Japa
nese parlor, with ceiling of bamboo ant
cabinet of Japanese pattern, opens to tn,
south. The dining-room is finished il
the style of the Italian renaissance Th
wood is English oak, delicately carved il
relief. The spaces between the wainsco
and the ceiling and the large centre pane
in the ceiling are filled with paintings b.
Duminais of Paris, representing hunting
scenes.
The great picture gallery is to the ives
of the main hall, and occupies the entir
rear of the building. The dimensions ar
80 feet by 48. The ceiling is 35 feet il
hight, and is formed chiefly of a skyligh
in opalescent and tinted glass combined il
quaint designs. A monumental mantel
piece of African marble with cone O
glass mosaic-work is in the west wall. TIL
woodwork is black oak with Sal
Domingo mahogany for the caryatide
and pilasters. The floor is inlaid wit
the same mahogany and bordered with
mosaic of Sienna and black marble in tn
Pompeiian manner. Over the doors O
the north, east and south sides are bal
comics connecting with the second stor
of the house. The gallery has separat
entrance from Fifty-tirst street, of whic
the vestibule is entirely-hoor, walls an
ceiling-of marble mosaic work made i
Venice. North of the gallery is Ii
aquarelle room finished in Moorish styl
with Circassian walnut touched here an
there with bright colors. These are IL
chief rooms in the house.