New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-28
MIR. MOROSINTS "ELMHURST."
THE SUMPTUOUS DECORATION OF THE
BANKERS HUDSON RIVER HOME
A SPLENDID COLLECTION OF ARMS AND ARMOR-
PIECES WITH AN INTEREST
ING HISTORY.

Riverdale commanding an extensive view of the
river and the Palisades. stands Elmhurst. the
palatial home of Giovanni y. Morosini. The
estate is about eighteen acres in area, but the
architect and the landscape gardener have i'm
proved every part Of it TO such an extent that
the place is as beautiful and possibly more in
teresting than many of the larger estates on
the riverside.
The entrance to Elmhurst is through an i'm
posing granite portal from the top OF which
two marble lions look down upon the visitor.
broad drive leads to the house, which is DUH
of brick with stone trimmings. and has proau
veranda supported by polished stone columns
The fact that the owner of the place has IDEAS
as to furniture and decorations out OF the ordl-
nary strikes one Immediately upon entering
the broad hall from the main entrance
The reception-room contains massive piece
of the carvers art in the shape OF d siuooo
which did service centuries ago In hoHaiu' VA
the ton of this old piece of carving s'aho 81
gantic hammered copper vessels OF antique ue
signs. which were used "in days OF ole" as or'hh-
inc vessels. All about the room hang objects
of antique art but mammoth orches'f'o' i'o.'
the Scbwarzwald. which occupies nearly one side
of the room and the electric lamps by "H'c" INC
room and the whole house are illuminated CIV
The drawing room on the other side Oh '"e
houi LIGHT and cheerful in tone, but there also
the chief objects of interest are old statues,
,.;oc o,d tanestries many OF which had
been used to decorate palaces when nave
,oosod % exist The door Is guarded by two
life-sjzed statues, one of which once stood III '"e
,nusic-room of an Italian palace. ana near p'
.bosa hangs large oil painting showing lhe
roootirc between Henry III and the pose Vi
y,ico which Mr. Morosini values doubly De
,,a tbo ecene Is laid at Venice, where ne was
horr ON a centre-tabe. the top OF wh'ch II
q oirc,,ar slab of malachite, stands SILVER re-
.,..a,c,ior Of an Egyptian pyramid supported
On ,ho hacks of four sphinxes, and in TINS room
nc IN the one on the opposite SIDE h'"e'" "
works Of art are also distributed hperdi!'
IN tho second floor looking south' Is Tue
library This room might just as well ne c''''u
the m, scum because. aside from the ldisc W.
faction Of books which it contains IL Is cro"u'u
with all sorts of curios, among Which ahc'e"'
arn,or and artistic specimens OF the cutters anu
arnoorers' arts conspicuous. Ah'"hF ''' ~
incts IN this room MI. Morosini values 'he mos
highly field wrting-desk. when "ou'u -,
valuable as specimen OF SILVER arr WIN
i,s history makes it doubly valuable. Inc menu
desk Mr. Moroeini says. was once 'h' P''f =
of Napolccn Bonaparte and vas gwen pS MN
70 his brother the King Of Wes'phalia~ 7''''i''''
relics valuable in themselves ana reca''''e
noted persOns and notable historical happenings
fill every nook and corner or the library anu
make it veritable museum
Rut all the rooms in Elmhurst with their rare
tapestries queer furniture, old plate ana E''-
tesoue carvings. are simply adJuncts 10 'he
armor hall which is the SHOW piece OF inc
n,aco and upon which the owner mas spent
much time study ard money. He was cade'
i'm the Austrian Army when youth anu Hc
probatlv gained his love for curious war I'M
Elements at that time. Later he became 'he
friend and associate Of Garihaldi. with whom
he worked and sympathized. He had been
collector of armor and arms for years Wheh ule
rlare for his home were made and Wheh the
orroor hall was completed he had me coilec-
lion. to which he has added many valuable speci-
mons and ne is still in the market for rare OF
artistic articles in that line.
Tho entrance to the armOr hall Is through q
door at the end of the main hall. At both sides
OF this door stand life-sized figures or the fapa
Swiss Guard clad in the uniform the design for
which has been credited to Michael Angelo. A
knight in armor forms the central part or
stained glass window which lights the hall. The
arnor hall is about seventy-hve feet long and
twenty-five feet wide and has two large alcoves
one of which contains an elaborate Tudor mante
,,,h q hammered iron screen Of rare beauty and
.rcient andirons surmounted by Oliver Crom
well helmets.
Tn the onnosite alcove are a case full Of old and
-ra swords a mounted knight in full armOr
rd stacks of spears and lances. ON a shelf
.,,h;cb ovtendc around three sides Of the room