The New York herald., 1921-10-13
Art From Famous
New York Home to
Be Sold at Auction
Collection Contains Some Of
the Actual Rooms From
Palatial Residence.

The furniture and interior decorations
from one of New York's famous resi-
dences is now on view in the galleries Of
the American Art Association, and makes
an auspicious opening OF the auction sea-
son at this establishment. The residence
was one of the most famous of the series
built by the late Richard Morris Hunt,
and the decorations in it when first in
stalled were the talk Of the town.
1t is likely, now that they are to be
dispersed TO the four winds at public auc-
ton, that again there will be much talk
of an explanatory nature, and this time
along with the admiration there will be
sure to be lamentations at the apparently
inexorable New York law that all things
must swiftly pass, for surely these won
derful interiors assembled by the great
architect deserved to last!
Since. however. they must go. it is a
matter Of luck that at their last appear
ance as collection they should have had
the help of another decorator of talent,
for Miss r. II. Lorenz of the association
has grouped them with such an unerring
instinct for style that the exhibition
would have been a revelation of the pos
sibilities OF such furniture, even to the
original collector.
The collection includes great carved
tables. benches, cabinets, imposing win
dows Of stained glass, wonders In the way
OF ialance, textiles, bronzes, carvings
and all the countless objects of art that
necessary hff,
standing features are some of the actual
rooms from the great residence that have
been brought down to Madison Square
and set up again intact.
Ivory and Gold Ballroom.
The principal one of these rooms is
the Regence ballroom, panelled in ivory
ana gold, which astonishes the visitor in
the entrance gallery. With it, and maxi
ing IT perhaps more impressive than ever,
are shown some huge and important
stained glass windows by Oudinot OF
Paris. The royal marble fireplace, with
It's superimposed mirror panels. is bal
anced on the opposite side of the room by
an alcove in which Venus and Cupid in
marble is most romantically placed. The
Oudinot windows consist of one great
one Illustrating the theme of the Field
or the Cloth OF Gold" and a series of
windows and trarsoms decorated with
heraldic devices
Absolutely in keeping with the rich
ness of the ivory and gold walls are
the sumptuous commodes in tulip wood
and ornamented with cuivre dore. the
tapestried seats. the mantel garnitures
and chandeliers.
A room of quieter character but
equally interesting Is of the Jacobean
narIOd In
mas an attractive built-in mantelpiece
and there is also a large recessed win
dow. Not fitting exactly the gallery in
which 1t is now shown. the extra spaces
nave been most ingeniously treated as
corridors and little vestibules, giving the
actual illusion Of a residence.
sun another complete room Is the
gided walnut music room in the Re-
gence style. the panels beautifully orna-
mented with pendent trophies OF musi-
cal instruments, in relief.
Among the notable furniture pieces
may be cited an important cabinet in
the style of Henry III. with elaborate
carvings and ornaments in silver and
tortoise shell: a sculptured ebony cabi-
net from the same period. designed in
the manner of Jean Goujou; two richly
carved cabinets from the Venetian
renaissance; an Italian renaissance suite
in walnut inlaid with ivory and holly
that harrnonizes with fine writing desk
of walnut inlaid with ivory: beauti-
full sofa in Aubusson tapestry and a
carved walnut four post tester bed with
baluster posts. There are also many
rugs. including replica of the famous
Ardebil rug now in the South Kensing-
ton Museum. and many damask hang
ings and cushions.
Rare Furniture on View.
Supplementing this great collection.
which is chiefly French and Italian in
style, second collection of Spanish and
English furniture from a residence in
Spuyten Duyvil fills several large gall
lerfes. IL Us the collection. evidently
of one who has travelled much in Spain
and has had unusual opportunities of
getting at the unusual The effect of
them is essentially artistic and plastic,
as we'll as rare.
There is charming seventeenth CEN
tury mantelpiece. sculptured and gilded
which Is all the more pleasant to see
since IL supports two delightful Tala-
vera water bottles in blue and white.
There are many carvings. since the
Spaniards excelled in carving, and the
chests varguenos. tables and doorways
have unusual excellences.
The English desks consort admirably
with these Spanish pieces and among
the iron work are two old English
Gothic wall lamps that are said to have
been brought to this country In the
Mayfiower. Another fine item is
lovely old Spanish altar rug of quaint
design and charming in color.
The furniture from the Richard NJ
Hunt house will be sold on the after
Moons of October II. 1s and 10. and
the Spanish and English pieces on
October 90 and 81.
NEW YORK LIFE IN REVUE.