National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
Herter Brothers 516 with the exception of the painted frieze that was done by the decorative
painter Elmer Garnsey. 517 In 1966 the Elliptical Hall and foyers were painted. 518
McKim's instructions in furnishing the Elliptical Hall were carried out combining
purchases made by Stanford White and furniture that Vanderbilt brought from his New York
City house. 519
Stanford White purchased the mantel, from Heilbronner in Paris. 520 Two cabinets, also
purchased by Stanford White from Donaldson in London, flank the entrance door. 521 Other
doorway to the main staircase (no evidence that they were ever installed) and the different
patterned detail in the vertical panels above the main entrance doors; they were constructed
with Pompeian designs (Adamesque) instead of the designed fruit-like drops found in the extant
(and designed) main staircase area.
516 Herter Brothers Sales Ledger, 1898-1904, Entry April 10, 1899,"F.W. Vanderbilt, Hyde Park,
N.Y., Messrs. McKim, Mead & White, archts., vol. 18, 65. Herter Brothers Store Ledger, Nov.
1897 - Oct. 1903, Entry 10934 December 1898. Herter Brothers Papers, vol. 8, 47. Herter
Brothers Sales Ledger, 1898-1904, Nov. 2d.
517 ". . . If you can find time to run up here some day with McKim, on your return, I would like
very much to have you do so and give your opinion on the proposed changes in the ceiling of
living room and the painting of the hall ceiling frieze and wall. Mr. Garnsey is to commence
work on the 5th inst." (Letter FWV to SW July 1, 1899, SW Papers, Box 19:2.)
518 Albert McClure, Monthly Report, May, 1966
519 McKim suggested the following in his Memorandum of September 17, 1897, SW Papers, Box
19:2:
1, 2, or 3 rugs
Large Central Table
Long Divan or Sofa opposite fireplace backing against table
Important Chairs flanking the fireplace
Cabinet between lavatory door and lobby
Examples of formal chairs to stand at regular intervals
Arrangement of Table and Chair or seat to be placed
in recessed window places either side of fireplace
Fine chimney piece for this hall opposite front door
520 See bills SW Papers, Box 49:3 and Box 19:2. Cornelius Vanderbilt II also bought a mantel
from Heilbronner in 1896 for the Library at The Breakers in Newport, see Armin Brand Allen,
"A Reverence for the Old World," Antiques 147 (April 1995), 584-591. Footnote # 7 cites a
Letter from Richard Howland Hunt to Cornelius Vanderbilt II dated June 26, 1896 in the
collection of the Preservation Society of Newport. The Hyde Park mantel was damaged in
transit. See SW to Heilbronner January 30, 1899, SW Papers, PB # 21. "At least a third of the
stonework that you sent over was so badly broken that it cost me more to repair than the mantel
originally cost me in Paris." In a subsequent letter to Heilbronner, White asked for a reduction
in his bill. SW to Heilbronner May 29, 1899, SW Papers, PB #22.
521 According to Mr. Samuels of French & Co., one of the cabinets was rare Henry II and the
other a copy. (Mitchell Samuels, French & Co., New York, "Additional Information on Contents of
Vanderbilt Mansion," to Gertrude S. Cooper, 1940, 1, VAMA General File, "French & Co.," ROVA
Curatorial Division.) Both cabinets were purchased by Stanford White, see White bills, Box 19:2,
49:3. The cabinet that is a copy #739 was made of old parts, see catalogue record and comments by Benno
Forman, VAMA Catalog Records.
105