Newport
Showing posts with label Newport. Show all posts

[US] Newport Mansions, Gilded Age and Vanderbilts (1)


"Any fool can make a fortune; it takes a man of brains to hold onto it," Commodore  Vanderbilt 

 One of the things that I love to do the most when I travel, is to roam about the streets, aimlessly, and figure out which era a house, a cottage, a phenomenal church was built.

Kind of like a guessing game -- finding common patterns among all those architectural structures, lines and forms.

Newport is the perfect place for this, with mansions from the Gilded Age, colonial houses that ranged from Beaux-art, Renaissance Revival, Gothic revival to Queen Anne style, and Irish influenced "cottages".

However, there are two mansions in Newport, still erect today, to see the rise and the fall of the Vanderbilts.

The Vanderbilts
Commodore Vanderbilt, started the business of running passenger boats and steamboats, with a capital of $100 borrowed from his mother in 1810. By 1877, his wealth has reached $100m, which is more than what was held in the US Treasury. William Henry Vanderbilt, his son, took great care of the inheritance and managed to double it, in just 8 years after his father's death.

The bulk of William's inheritance was divided between two of his sons -- Cornelius Vanderbilt II and William Kissam Vanderbilt.

Cornelius V. II built the Breakers. William K. Vanderbilt built the Marble House.

The Marble House  
The Marble House has the features of a Beaux-Arts architecture with flat roof, symmetrical design, arched windows or doors and a tint of classical design and forms. It was designed Richard Morris Hunt, who also designed the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. 

 The cost of the house was about $11 million, of which $7 million was spent on marble.

newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house

The grand dining room is covered in red marbles and 24K gold.

newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house


newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house
Study Room 
newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house
Gothic Chapel 
newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house
Another room for hosting guests 

The room of Gloria Laura Vanderbilt, the only child of Reginald Vanderbilt. It is said that little Gloria had no say on whatsoever, and the Chinoise design of her room is totally her mother's idea. Little Gloria was also the subject of a "trial of the century" -- the battle for custody between her mother and her aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (American sculptor and founder of the Whitney museum -- we will see her room later!). She is also the mother of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper.



newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house



newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house
Mrs. Vanderbilt's room 
A highly technologically advanced automatic water heater 
newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house

newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house

To next post:
Newport Mansions, Gilded Age & Vanderbilts (2)

[US] Newport Mansions, Gilded Age and Vanderbilts (2)

The Breaker
The Break had its Italian Renaissance influence and the entrance room is largely inspired by the French Opera House. When it was completed in 1895, it was considered as one of the most opulent summer "cottage" in Newport.

vanderbilt, the breaker
 Porte-cochère. A covered entrance to carriages or cars from the weather. 

The Breaker has one of the most advanced technologies implemented: centralized heating system and electricity. The main hall is inspired by 16th century palaces of Turin, and hence took the form of an Italian Renaissance style.

vanderbilt, the breaker

The walls are made of Caen stone, a creamy yellow type of limestone that are found in France.
The room has huge pilasters that are decorated with oak leaves and acorns, which symbolizes strength and longevity. You will be able to find these symbols throughout the house. The children are allowed to dance, ride bicycles or slide down the stairs in this hall!

Morning Room 
At first historians couldn't quite understand what made the wall panels look "shimmering", and they thought it was plated with silver. In fact, this room was varnished with platinum, the most expensive metal ever. The ceiling resembles the four seasons, and the wall panels are painted with muses that represents music and poetry. 
vanderbilt, the breaker
Muses 




Music Room 
The music room is where the Vanderbilts played the piano, and invite friends over for dance. The room is covered with gold leafs, chandeliers, and exotic oak furnitures. 

 vanderbilt, the breaker



Study Room 
The study room used wood panels from Turkey and the side panels were made of leather. There are symbols of Dolphins throughout the room. The Vanderbilts usually read or drink tea in this room. 
The fireplace was taken from the 16th century chateau d’Arnay le Duc in Burgundy, France.
vanderbilt, the breaker
Study room where they drink tea 

vanderbilt, the breaker


Gertrude's Bedroom 
Gertrude preferred to be a poor girl rather than the heiress of great wealth. She became an artist and a sculptor, and on the chest is one of her art piece. She is also the founder of the Whitney museum. 
vanderbilt, the breakervanderbilt, the breaker


Mrs. Vanderbilt's room vanderbilt, the breaker

 The stairs are designed to be a little shorter than usual, for women to glide down the stairs without tripping. 

vanderbilt, the breaker



17th century tapestry about Alexander the Great 

The breaker was originally a wooden house and destroyed by fire, so in the re-design, Mr. Vanderbilt specifically requested the kitchen was designed on a different wing to prevent catching from fire. Tables in the kitchen are also covered in zinc, which is kind of like the modern day stainless steel. 

vanderbilt, the breaker

vanderbilt, the breaker

This is the view from their Loggia, an indoor porch covered with mosaic tiles where they can sit, chill and watch the sea. The house is called "The Breaker" for a good reason -- you can see the waves crashing against the cliffs and the rocks are called breakers. 



Both the Breaker and the Marble House gave us a glimpse of the upper class in the early 19th century. They may lack the noble pedigree, but the industrial revolution gave these people an enormous growth in wealth to splurge on impeccable grandeur and over-the-top designs. 
To previous Newport Mansions, Gilded Age and Vanderbilts (1)


Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)