Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-30
BEAUTIFUL DOORS.

Among the beautiful and unusual details of
this house are the doors leading from the dining
room into the MUSHROOM. These doors are
of oak and over the surface Venetial ornament
is traced in small copper and brass nails. The
design at first does not appear, but at length
seems to penetrate the irridescent sheen that
plays above the surface. a pretty feature is
the elevator, which belongs to small concealed
ball. This hall may be entered from the YES
tbule, and is intended TO be used on gala &C.
caslons, that guests may reach the dressing
rooms unobserved. Within this enclosure
which is lined with small squares of white ma
hogany, Is winding stairway with light, gay
baiustrade. Above is a gilded dome and lam
tern.
These complete the state apartments but the
the house throughout, with the exception of a
small boudoir. which is French, is carried out
with the same careful attention to consistency
IN the detail.
MRS. CORNELIUS vANDEIBILT's DINING ROOM,
as was remarked above, contains decoration
which except in extent parallels fifteenthcentury
work. As decoration in kind had not been done
before in our time, it was inevitably largely ex-
perimental. That Mr.. Vanderbilt should have
consented to experiment carried on so luxuri-
ously is not only to his credit, but reflects his
confidence in the decorator, Mr.. Jno. La Fargo.
The dining-room was intended to serve in part
for picture gallery, the lighting indicates
The only side light is received from small
conservatory which fronts on the street The
main light comes from an oblong panel in the
ceiling filled with opalescent glass glass jewels
introducing the only positive color 1t is the
framework of this panel which is in fact the
rest OF the ceiling that receives the decoration
1t is made up of fourteen oblong panels enclosed
between heavy oak beams that are inlaid with
double Greek fret in mother of pearl.
EFFECTIVE PANEL DESIGNS.
Four of these panels are alike. In the center
= Al
mered from golden bronze. This is surrounded
by wreath, Of which the leaves are green SER
pentlne. AT the ends are Loves. modelled and
carved in Siena marble and holding ribbons of
mother Of pearl. The panel, which is of white
mahogany. Is then framed in a wreath of bronze
and enclosed III an egg and tongue moulding of
old oak. Opposite the fireplace, which is
paneled to the ceiling in old oak, and orna-
mented with an interlacing design inlaid in
mother of pearl. is panel containing the date
of erection In raised Roman numerals of ivory
At each end are wreaths OF serpentine with
berries OF coral and ivory. In line with this
and on each side, are two curious panels en-
larged from some carved worries preserved at
Sens, France. These are archaic designs of the
sea and land. The sea Is symboiiZed by curv-
ing lines of mother Of pearl, with Neptune and
his trident and mermaids modelled in ivory and
metals Busy little figures digging and carry
ing fower-pots represent land.
THREE PANELS
balance these on the opposite side. The mid
die panel has a Roman design, with a central
ornament and large flowers, inlaid with mother
of pearl; on each side are ciasped hands hold
ing olive branches of green serpentine. OF the
thanking panels one bears the word. "Hospitali-
tas," the other "Amicitia," in large raised let
tiers of ivory between wreaths of serpentine and
berries of coral and ivory. These are but tribu-
tary to the four principal panels in which both
beauty of design and magnificence of materials