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Including: Five plates, 7 ¼” d. Six (each) coffee cups and saucers, 5 ¾” d. (saucers). 6 cup plates, 4 ½” d. Teapot, 8” h. Creamer, 6 ¼” h. Lidded sugar bowl, 7 /4” h. Bowl, 6 ½” d. Circa 1845-1865. < Back White Porcelain “Old Wedding Ring” Tea Service First Floor - Dining Room Ceramics and Glass and Objects of Vertu Including: Five plates, 7 ¼” d. Six (each) coffee cups and saucers, 5 ¾” d. (saucers). 6 cup plates, 4 ½” d. Teapot, 8” h. Creamer, 6 ¼” h. Lidded sugar bowl, 7 /4” h. Bowl, 6 ½” d. Circa 1845-1865. White porcelain with gold trim around rims, handles, and finials; unmarked, French manufacture; 27 pieces total; condition is good. Previous Next

Southern New England, 1770-1800. Cherry, rush seat; 38 ¼" h. x 18 ¾" w. x 20" d. < Back Pair of Side Chairs Second Floor - SE Bedroom Furniture and Hard Furnishings Southern New England, 1770-1800. Cherry, rush seat; 38 ¼" h. x 18 ¾" w. x 20" d. The rush-seated chairs with an eared crest rail over a pierced splat in interlacing strap design, tenoned into a stay rail; rush seat, straight Marlborough front legs joined by box stretchers, the rear one of which is turned. Legs and stretchers with beaded edges. Previous Next

We welcomed Darien High School Seniors, Margaret Edwards, Piper Henderson, Alexis Lyons and Matthew Magnotta, as our first class of high school interns this Spring. They planned a fun "lunch bunch program" for twelve lucky kids! ​ The themes for the days: Monday, June 6th - Colonial Day Tuesday, June 7th - Gardening Day Wednesday, June 8th - Art-at-Mather Day Thursday, June 9th - Workshop Day We'll be back next year with new interns and more fun! < Back Intern Lunch Bunch 2022 - June, 2022 We welcomed Darien High School Seniors, Margaret Edwards, Piper Henderson, Alexis Lyons and Matthew Magnotta, as our first class of high school interns this Spring. They planned a fun "lunch bunch program" for twelve lucky kids! The themes for the days: Monday, June 6th - Colonial Day Tuesday, June 7th - Gardening Day Wednesday, June 8th - Art-at-Mather Day Thursday, June 9th - Workshop Day We'll be back next year with new interns and more fun! Previous Next

< Back Barnraiser 3.0 Sat., Sept 24, 6 to 10 pm Enjoy a picnic under the stars, with live music on the lawn! Previous Next

Oil on canvas; 27 ¼” h. x 21 ½” w. (sight size). < Back Alexander Spinell Clark (American, 20th c.), Portrait of Bertha McPherson First Floor - Parlor Fine Art Oil on canvas; 27 ¼” h. x 21 ½” w. (sight size). Bertha Mather McPherson (1906-1993), Architect, Preservationist, and Founder of the Darien Historical Society Daughter of Stephen Tyng Mather. In three-quarter pose, a mature lady with hands folded in her lap. Signed LL: Alexander Spinell Clark/ 1981 Note: No record of other works by this studio artist can be found. Framed in gilded frame. Condition is good. Previous Next

50 mi E of Fresno, CA < Back Sequoia 50 mi E of Fresno, CA 1890 Established: Size: 404,064 acres Visitors: 1,153,198 in 2022 Summary Sequoia National Park, located in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, is renowned for its stunning landscapes and iconic giant sequoia trees. Home to some of the largest trees on Earth, including the famous General Sherman Tree, the park offers visitors a chance to marvel at the sheer size and beauty of these ancient giants. In addition to the towering sequoias, the park features rugged mountain terrain, deep canyons, and picturesque alpine meadows. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing, with opportunities to spot black bears, mule deer, and diverse bird species. With its breathtaking scenery and abundant natural wonders, Sequoia National Park offers a memorable experience for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Wildlife Sequoia National Park is not only famous for its majestic giant sequoia trees but also for its diverse wildlife. The park's varied ecosystems support a wide range of animal species, including black bears, mule deer, mountain lions, and bobcats. Birdwatchers can spot a variety of birds, from colorful songbirds to majestic raptors like bald eagles and peregrine falcons. Additionally, the park's rivers and streams are home to trout and other aquatic species. Wildlife enthusiasts can explore the park's trails and meadows, offering ample opportunities to observe and appreciate the natural beauty and biodiversity of Sequoia National Park. Sounds of the Park Things to Do In the warmer months, visitors can go day hiking, overnight backpacking, camping, or driving through the famous Tunnel Log. In the winter, visitors to Sequoia National Park can go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Hiking Snowshoeing Camping When to Visit Sequoia National Park's climate varies significantly by elevation, as temperatures decrease with increasing altitude. Summers are generally warm and dry, while winters are cold and snowy. Like most parks, crowds are highest during the summer. Therefore, the spring (May) and fall (September-October) would be the best time to visit. Ties to Stephen Mather Sequoia National Park has a Stephen Mather plaque located in the Giant Forest. Furthermore, visitors can take Mather Drive, a road on the park's Ash Mountain. Fun Fact Sequoia National Park's General Sherman tree is the largest-known single tree on Earth by volume. Previous Next

SUPPORT THE MATHER HOMESTEAD AND WIN GREAT PRIZES! We invite you to support the Mat her Homestead's restoration projects by buying raffle tickets for great prizes! You do not need to be present at the event to win. Buy more tickets and m ore chances to win! P rize packages below. PAY VIA CC BELOW OR VENMO: @mather-homestead-foundation last 4 digits x9649 THANK YOU!

New York or Southwestern Connecticut, 1810-1840. Tulip poplar; 8" h. x 15 ¾" w. x 7 ¼" d. < Back Small Lidded Box Attic Other Decorative Arts New York or Southwestern Connecticut, 1810-1840. Tulip poplar; 8" h. x 15 ¾" w. x 7 ¼" d. The finely dovetailed box has a lid attached with two cast iron hinges, which opens to a lidless till on right side. Applied moldings on lid and base; resting on ball feet; with original red stain. Previous Next

The Mather Homestead property originally consisted of 100 acres in 1778, which is what it took for a family to sustain itself. When Stephen Tyng Mather acquired the property in 1906, it consisted of 22 acres. In 1909, Stephen Mather hired renowned architect and landscape artist Walter Burley Griffin to create the Homestead's sunken garden that still exists today. THE MATHER PROPERTY AND GARDENS The Mather Homestead property originally consisted of 100 acres, which is what it took for a family to sustain itself. The working farm included vegetables, flax and wheat and farm animals providing milk, eggs and meat. By 1906, when Stephen Tyng Mather became the sole owner of the Homestead, the property consisted of 22 acres. Stephen, his wife Jane, and their baby daughter, Bertha, first occupied the house in the summer of 1907. In addition to making changes to the house, they added a sunken garden in 1909 which still exists today. Walter Burleigh Griffin Garden 1909 Stephen Mather hired Walter Burley Griffin, who was both an architect a nd a landscape architect, to design the sunken garden. As a member of "The Prairie School," he worked with Frank Lloyd Wright and oversaw the construction on many of Wright's houses. Wright met Stephen Mather when they were both members of the Prairie Club of Chicago which, among other things, sought to "raise public awareness of special areas and to create an interest in their conservation." In 1911, an international competition was held for the design of a capital for Australia. Walter and his partner and wife, Marion Mahoney Griffin, entered the competition and won. They emigrated to Australia in 1914 and did not return. MORE ON DONN's BLOG 1909 Sunken Garden designed by Walter Burley Griffin Pictures by Herbert W. Gleason. cont. 1909 Sunken Garden designed by Walter Burley Griffin Pictures by Herbert W. Gleason. 1/2 Lillian Egleston Garden 1938 Upon S tephen Mather's death in 1930, his daughter, Bertha, inherited the house. She changed the sunken garden to be a bit less formal in 1938. The plans were prepared by Lilian Egleston of Elizabeth, NJ, where Bertha's mother grew up. MHA 1951 uk garden P McPherson # 0 - Egleston plan 1938 MHA 1953-05 uk garden flowers P MHA 1951 uk garden P 1/11 Charles Middeleer Terrace 1962 Berth a added the terrace a round the well and additional plantings in 1962 with plans by Charles Middeleer. Bertha cared for the gardens until her death in 1993. MHA 1969-05 uk house from garden P MHA 1969-05 uk well P MHA 1969-05 uk well and garden P MHA 1969-05 uk house from garden P 1/8 Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center Garden 2020 In 2020, a new barn-like structure, the "Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center, " was added to the property to provide a place for education. The Mather Homestead Foundation is grateful to the Garden Club of Darien, who generously contributed foundation plantings to the barn. The Garden Club of Darien selected plantings with considerations of sunlight, water, deer resistance, pollinator attraction, color, size and other growing conditions. Plants include Ilex, Viburnum, Spirea, and more. The Garden Club of Darien and Mather Homestead are grateful for the expertise of Ungemack-Mccool Landscape Associates, Inc. for their help with this project. "The Barn" Plants courtesy of the Garden Club of Darien Cont. "The Barn" 1/3 Mather Garden Today Fast forward to today. The Mather Homestead gardens were quite unkempt when the Mather Homestead Foundation took over the property in 2017. Thanks to the efforts of Mather Homestead volunteers, in particular Andy Huntington, the gardens have been restored and beautified. In addition to leading extensive clean up of the gardens, Andy has incorporated roses, peonies and other herbaceous perennials to give the garden more visual appeal throughout the spring and summer season. Thank you Andy and our other volunteers! Cultural Landscape Report 2023-24 In 2023, The Mather Homestead Foundation hired Heritage Landscapes to conduct a Cultural Landscape Report of the property. T he report will provide a better understanding of the property, its history and usage, and inform a Master Plan for the future. If you are interested in helping our organization with our gardens, please send us an email he re! GET IN TOUCH!

The well served as the source of water for the house—as well as a crucial hiding place during Tory raids. < Back The Well Listen to Audio Tour for this location: 00:00 / 00:37 The well served as the source of water for the house—as well as a crucial hiding place during Tory raids. Image Gallery Photo of the well today 1929 photo of the well with the sunken garden in the background Site Description The well was the source of water for the house when the home was built in 1778. In addition to being used as a water source, it had a very special use as a place to hide valuables from the Tories. Sarah Mather hid over 100 pounds of clothing and silver belonging to both the Mather family and their neighbors. Clothing was very valuable as they made it themselves from the flax and other materials grown on the property. The Tories raided this house in 1781. They stole clothes, animals, silver and other valuables. Some silver that was hidden in a secret compartment inside the house was not stolen. Please proceed to Site #3: The Garden - which is only a few feet away. Previous Next

The Mather Homestead was proud to host the first Darien Alumni Art Show showcasing the works of local young artists. < Back Darien Alumni Art Show 2021 The Mather Homestead was proud to host the first Darien Alumni Art Show showcasing the works of local young artists. Previous Next

Maple, rush seat. New England; 41 ½” x 22” x 16”; circa 1750-1780, and later. < Back Queen Anne Armchair First Floor - Dining Room Furniture and Hard Furnishings Maple, rush seat. New England; 41 ½” x 22” x 16”; circa 1750-1780, and later. Yoke crest rail over a Queen Anne solid splat, woven rush seat; ring-and-ball front stretcher, Spanish (or brush) feet. Condition: Considerable restoration: new front feet; rear feet have been ended-out. Shape of arms is inconsistent with the form, and thus determined to be replacements. Previous Next