The World of Antiques, Art, and Architecture in Victorian America

536 Pages·1979·81.983 MB·English

by  Bishop, Robert, Coblentz, Patricia

«
THE WORLD
TCl
A3SITiOpBS A]
W
t Jfu H
—
T lis extraordinaryandfascinatingbooi,
c -lebrates theVictorian homein Amer-
ica: the home thatwas "everymans cas-
tle"; the home that was the important
center offamily life; the home that in
man\' cases was stuffed to overflowing
with furniture and objects and art
oftenbeautiful, often exotic, and some-
times fantastic. It is a period in Amer-
icandecorativeartsandculture that n •
been receiving enthusiastic attention
from students andcollectorsfor several
vears now, as we have become more
aware and more understanding of the
real beauty and fine craftsmanship
characteristic ofmuch ofthe furniture
and art ofVictorian America.
This landmark book, which is cer-
tainly the most comprehensive over-
view of this era ever published, is an
invaluable guide. Divided into sixteen
chapters and illustrated with over 600
halftones and 45 color plates, The
World ofAntiques, Art, and Architec-
ture in Victorian America provides a
feast of material for all to learn from:
architecture, the Victorian house,
heating, lighting, furniture, glass, ce-
ramics, clocks, metals, pictorial art,
sculpture, andcountry style. Ofspecial
interest are the delightful chapters de-
voted to mans world, woman's world,
children's world, and pleasures and
pastimes, fortheyprovide access to the
particular quality oflife in this period.
Robert Bishop has been Director of
the Museum of American Fol Art,
;
New York City, since 1977. Fron J.97!
to 1977 he was Museum Edio ,\t
Greenfield Village and Henry InoJ
Museum, Dearborn, Michigan. Mr.
Bishop also lectures widely on Amer-
ican decorative arts and American fol*
art. He is the author ofCenturies and
(continuedon backflap)

THE
WORLD OF
ANTIQUES,ART,
AND ARCHITECTURE
AMERICA
IN VICTORIAN
'wT'-"i.^„;rr '
.
Side elevation of the Davis County Court House. Bloomfield, Iowa. 1877-1878. Archi-
tects: Thomas J. Tolan & Son. Massive yet graceful, handsome and abounding in fasci-
nating details, this court house is a pinnacle of Victorian architecture in America. Photo-
graph by Bob Thall. (Seagram County Court House Archives; The Library of Congress)
THE
WORLD OF
ANTIQUES, ART,
AND ARCHITECTURE
AMERICA
VICTORIAN
IN
Robert Bishop
and Patricia Coblentz
E.EDutton NewYork
(Above). A Victorian Idyll, artist unknown. New Jersey. 1850-1860. Oil on canvas.
20" x 26". The Victorian gentleman who commissioned this portrait of his Gothic Re-
vival house was understandably proud of all he possessed: a commodious home in the
latest fashion dominating broad lawns with flowering urns, tree roses, rustic furniture,
a many-tiered fountain, his child driving a goat cart, and a large greenhouse in the
background. (Private collection)
Copyright © 1979 by Robert Bishop / All rights reserved / Printed in the U.SA. / No part of
this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or
to be invented, without permission in writing from the publishers, except by a reviewer who
wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine,
newspaper, or broadcast. / For information contact: E. P. Dutton, 2 Park Avenue, New York,
N. Y. 10016. / Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 78-55778 / ISBN: 0-525-12912-X
(Cloth); ISBN: 0-525-47430-7 (Paper) Published simultaneously in Canada by Clarke, Irwin
& C9om8pa7n6y 5Lim4it3ed2,1Toronto and Vancouver. / Book designed by George H. Buehler.
10 FirstEdition
CONTENTS
H
Introduction
21
Architecture
The Victorian House 63
Heating 87
Lighting 105
Furniture 129
165
Glass
Ceramics 191
225
Clocks
243
Metals
Man's World 281
Woman's World 305
Children's World 347
Pleasures and Pastimes 369
Pictorial Art 395
439
Sculpture
Country Style 461
Notes 479
486
Bibliography
Index 492
COLOR
ILLUSTRATIONS
(following page 256)
Plate 1. "Wedding Cake House," Kennebunk, Maine
Plate 2. Watercolor of Victorian mansion
Plate 3. Butler House, Marshall, Michigan
Plate 4. Longwood, Natchez, Mississippi
Plate 5. Colonel Walter Gresham House, Galveston, Texas
Plate 6. House in Stick/Eastlake style, San Francisco,
California
Plate 7. Dining room at Lyndhurst, Tarrvtown, New York
Plate 8. Parlor from Colonel Robert Milligan House,
J.
Saratoga Springs, New York
Plate 9. Entrance hall at Mark Twain Memorial, Hartford,
Connecticut
Plate 10. Dining room at Mark Twain Memorial, Hartford,
Connecticut
Plate 11. The Parlor on Brooklyn Heights of Mr. and
Mrs. John Ballard by Edward Lamson Henrv
Plate 12. Moorish smoking room from John D. Rockefeller
House, New York City
Plate 13. Design for a living room in the Art Nouveau stvle
by Will Bradley
Plate 14. Gas chandelier in the Rococo Revival stvle
Plate 15. Center table in the Rococo Revival stvle
Plate 16. "Square" piano in the Rococo Revival stvle
Plate 17. Pedestal for displaying sculpture
Plate 18. Wooton patent secretary
Plate 19. Cottage bureau with painted decoration
Plate 20. Center table in Renaissance Revival stvle
Plate 21. Dressing chest made by Herter Brothers