Travel to Newport ...

T

TheWoodWiz

Well-known member
I plan to travel to Newport RI in late May / early June to tour the great houses w/ the Victorian Society of America. Stated itinerary is:

"Tours within Newport include visits to the Colonial buildings; the Shingle Style, Colonial Revival, and Beaux Arts cottages such as Chateau-Sur-Mer, Kingscote, the Breakers, Ochre Court, and Marble House; the Casino and resort facilities; and various nineteenth-century churches and gardens".

I'm thinking of renting a car and staying a few extra days to look around some more on my own. Any suggestions for good sites for a period furniture geek like me? Anything within 100-150 miles is game. I live in SF so access to real American Period furniture is a challenge. I'm hoping to satiate my hunger a little.

Thanks,

JB
 
In Newport, you should also check out the Samuel Whitehorne House, Hunter House, and Newport Historical Society. Jeffrey Greene has a showroom too.

In Boston, the MFA is a must. The Peaody Essex Museum in Salem, Old Sturbridge Village, Historic Deerfield, Plimoth Plantation and Peter Follansbee, the Wadsworth Atheneum and Connecticut Historical Society.

I could go on, but that would keep you busy for a week, at least.
 
JB,
  You have a bunch of options within 100 miles. If you can only visit one of the five listed below, I would try to visit the Yale University Art Gallery Furniture Study because you will get hands on access to numerous pieces of actual 18th century furniture.   

1.  The Claw and Ball in Newport is the showroom of a premier period reproduction furniture maker.  I have not visited the store, but I would imagine you will be able to get hands on and check out construction details of the furniture.  I would give them a call before you visit.

2.  Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, CT has a great collection of period furniture and also has something called the Yale University Art Gallery Furniture Study which is basically a huge collection of their furniture that you can take apart and look at construction details, take measurements, etc.  Apparently it's amazing.  You have to make an appointment before you go.

3.  Rhode Island School of Design Museum in Providence.  Great furniture collection with Goddard/Townsend pieces in the collection.

4.  Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT.  Great collection with a focus on 17th century furniture, home of the Wallace Nutting collection.

5.  Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  Another premier collection, arguably one of the best in the country.

-Ford
 
I just returned from a vacation to Newport & Providence. The above suggestions were invaluable.
For period furniture in Newport, do not miss Whitehorne House or Hunter House. They are only open from May – Sept.
For period furniture in Providence, The Pendleton House at the RISD museum and John Brown House are a must see. Pendleton allows cameras with no flash, John Brown allows flash photography.

Now for a question about Newport Desks / Bookcases. RISD had 2 Desks/Bookcases and John Brown house had 1. My understanding before the trip was there were 10 Newport Desk/Bookcases in existence that were attributed to John Goddard. After a long discussion with the RIHS representative I was informed the below list is more accurate. To anyone with more knowledge than I, is the below list accurate? Have I misunderstood or been misled all these years? Thanks
Boston Museum – John Carlile
Boston Museum – John Goddard
Yale – John Carlile
Private Owner – John Carlile
RIHS – John Carlile
Winterthur – John Goddard
MET – John Goddard
RISD – John Goddard
RISD – John Goddard
Bayou Bend – John Goddard
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top