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Mahogany and veneer; circa 1825-1840. American; 28 ¾” h. x 21” w. x 17” d. < Back Empire Three-Drawer Worktable Second Floor - NW Sitting Room Furniture and Hard Furnishings Mahogany and veneer; circa 1825-1840. American; 28 ¾” h. x 21” w. x 17” d. A molded top over three ogee graduated drawers with book-matched veneer, glass knobs; ring-turned and block legs ending in casters. Few small veneer losses, but generally good condition. Previous Next

American Vistas - from the Hudson River School to the National Parks < Back ArtScapes Robin Hoffman - Jan. 18, 2023 American Vistas - from the Hudson River School to the National Parks Previous Next

Brass; 19 ½” h. x 28” w.; late 19th century. < Back Georgian Style Six-Arm Chandelier First Floor - Dining Room Other Decorative Arts Brass; 19 ½” h. x 28” w.; late 19th century. Scrolled S-curve arms with flared cups. Previous Next

Portrait: Pastel on paper; 18 ½” h. x 13 ¾” w. (sight size). Letter-book: Brown ink on wove paper, 6 ¼” x 8” sheets; 11 sheets, plus three stamped, folded, and postmarked family letters, 3” x 5”. < Back Early American Portrait, Margaret Henderson and Letter-Book Archive First Floor - Parlor Fine Art Portrait: Pastel on paper; 18 ½” h. x 13 ¾” w. (sight size). Letter-book: Brown ink on wove paper, 6 ¼” x 8” sheets; 11 sheets, plus three stamped, folded, and postmarked family letters, 3” x 5”. In half pose profile, a young Margaret Henderson with upswept hair style, in a high-waisted blue gown with double white neck ruffle, against a grey ground. Portrait is well executed and in very good condition. In period gilded molded frame, glazed. Circa 1825-1830. Together with Margaret Henderson’s (b. 1805) Schoolgirl Letter-book, dating over a period of three months in 1820 while she attended the Linden Hall School in Lititz, Pennsylvania. [Founded in 1746, the Linden Hall School is the oldest day and boarding school for girls in the United States.] Linden Hall School confirms from their archives that Margaret Henderson was fifteen years old when she enrolled at the school in 1820. The letter-book, containing a series of weekly letters to Margaret’s parents, and three family letters to her over a three month period, October to December 1820, comprises an important record of life for a teenage schoolgirl in rural Pennsylvania in the early nineteenth century. Excerpts, for example, detail the difficulties of Margaret’s buggy transport traveling from Shippensburg to Lititz, Pennsylvania, a journey of two days and about 80 miles. In another, she writes of her loneliness and longing to hear news from her family. Another letter describes the distressful news received by her friend at the school of the accidental death of a brother. In a letter from Margaret’s mother, she writes of Margaret’s sister giving birth alone with no one to assist other than “the girl” (presumably, a servant), and of the sister’s poor condition and potential impending death as a result of the childbirth. Documents such as these letters, along with a portrait of the writer serve as an important historical record, capturing details of daily life in early nineteenth century America—these are rare artifacts and survivors. Previous Next

England, 1821. A formulaic/pattern work, well executed, featuring figures, animals, and biblical script. < Back English 1821 “Adam and Eve” Sampler, Silk-on-Linen Second Floor - Guest Room Other Decorative Arts England, 1821. A formulaic/pattern work, well executed, featuring figures, animals, and biblical script. Along the upper section enclosed by scrolling vines: Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the lord she shall be praised. In the lower half, surrounded by animals, birds, and figures are Adam and Eve by the apple tree and the snake, and this verse: Adam and Eve. Whilest innocent in paradise were placed but soon the serpent by his while the happy paire disgraced. The maker’s stitched signature is along the bottom section: Eliza Sumner finished this work december the 8 1821 aged 9 years. Condition is good with light discoloration of linen ground. Previous Next

Mahogany; 10” h. x 12” l. x 12” w.; 20th century < Back Footstool Second Floor - SE Bedroom Furniture and Hard Furnishings Mahogany; 10” h. x 12” l. x 12” w.; 20th century Reproduction small square footstool with needlework slipseat. Previous Next

Our first Plein air art class with Lisa Thoren: Learn the art of landscape painting! A special lesson on how to sketch plein air with Lisa Thoren. Creating outdoors, we will discover techniques to learn perspective, composition and values. Includes wine to help your creative inspiration :-). < Back How to Paint Plein Air with Lisa Thoren - September 24, 2020 Our first Plein air art class with Lisa Thoren: Learn the art of landscape painting! A special lesson on how to sketch plein air with Lisa Thoren. Creating outdoors, we will discover techniques to learn perspective, composition and values. Includes wine to help your creative inspiration :-). Previous Next

Educator Samantha Gault led a discussion of the first book in Aaron Johnson's National Park Mystery Series: "Mystery in Rocky Mountain National Park." Then the kids acted out the book! < Back Book Club for Kids! Mystery in Rocky Mountain National Park - March 25, 2023 Educator Samantha Gault led a discussion of the first book in Aaron Johnson's National Park Mystery Series: "Mystery in Rocky Mountain National Park." Then the kids acted out the book! Previous Next

Northern Europe, 20th century. Walnut, pine, mirrored glass; 31" h. x 13 ¼" w. < Back Looking Glass Second Floor - SE Bedroom Other Decorative Arts Northern Europe, 20th century. Walnut, pine, mirrored glass; 31" h. x 13 ¼" w. Rectangular with a scalloped and pierced walnut-veneered crest rail, gilded appliqués at the center, a repeated motif at the veneered base. Ogee molding and parcel gilt inner edge appear to be 18th century, however the backboards exhibit little or no age, and modern wire nails appear to be the original fasteners. Previous Next

Create your own CUTTING GARDEN with help from local gardening enthusiast, Ania Janis. This four-session program provided all the tips, instructions, plans and supplies you need to create your own cutting garden at home. Session 1: Wed., Feb. 16, 7 - 8:30 pm: Intro and Cutting Garden Basics: Sweet Peas, Session 2: Wed., Feb. 23, 7 - 8:30 pm: Pinching & Watering: Snapdragons, Stock, Session 3: Wed., March 9, 7 - 8:30 pm: Succession Planting, Hardening Off: Zinnias, Cosmos & Phlox, Session 4: Wed., April 6, 7 - 8:30 pm: Direct Sowing, Planting Out: Poppies & Sunflowers All supplies included. < Back Grow Along at Mather with Ania Janis - 4 classes Spring 2022 Create your own CUTTING GARDEN with help from local gardening enthusiast, Ania Janis. This four-session program provided all the tips, instructions, plans and supplies you need to create your own cutting garden at home. Session 1: Wed., Feb. 16, 7 - 8:30 pm: Intro and Cutting Garden Basics: Sweet Peas, Session 2: Wed., Feb. 23, 7 - 8:30 pm: Pinching & Watering: Snapdragons, Stock, Session 3: Wed., March 9, 7 - 8:30 pm: Succession Planting, Hardening Off: Zinnias, Cosmos & Phlox, Session 4: Wed., April 6, 7 - 8:30 pm: Direct Sowing, Planting Out: Poppies & Sunflowers All supplies included. Previous Next

< Back A Visit from St. Nicholas Sat., Dec 11, 2021, 11 am Good boys and girls enjoyed a visit with Santa and other activities such as "pin the nose on rudolph." They all left with a stocking of goodies! Previous Next

< Back Join lecture with the Garden Club of Darien: Celebrating 200 years of Frederick Law Olmsted Weds., March 30, 7 pm, Barn, free Celebrating 200 Years of Frederick Law Olmsted The 200th celebration of Frederick Law Olmsted’s birth is causing reflection and discourse about his work all over the country. The famed “Father of American Landscape Architecture,” and his family firm, had a definitive hand in over 500 commissions, that included 100 public parks and recreation areas, 200 private estates, 50 residential communities, and campuses for about 40 academic institutions. Among them, the creation of New York’s Central Park (1857), the Buffalo Park System (1868), Boston Park System (1870) and the United State Capitol (1874), are standouts in American landscape design. When he went on to do Belle Isle Park in Detroit, the 1880s, Lawrenceville School in 1883, and Stanford University in 1886, his fame caused his firm to win the bid for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Bryn Mawr College in 1895 and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina from 1895 to 1900. Therefore, it is our privilege to welcome Jonathan Olmsted, one of Frederick’s descendants, to highlight the life and works of his vaulted ancestor, illustrated with stunning visuals including photos and plans. Both Frederick Law Olmsted, commonly referred to as FLO, and Jonathan Olmsted, were descended from James Olmsted, who came to America from England in 1632, and was one of the founders of Hartford, Connecticut, where FLO was later born. Jonathan Olmsted was born in Boston in 1942, attended Phillips Exeter Academy, graduated from Stanford University in 1964, and for the last 45 years has lived in Darien, Connecticut with his wife Janet. He was a banker in New York, London, and San Francisco for 15 years. Then he was President of Cameron Communications, a small presentation consulting firm for 30 years before he retired. His scintillating presentation will highlight at least a dozen of Olmsted’s major projects. Please join us for this event celebrating Olmsted's remarkable legacy. Previous Next