National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
today. 532 The rug that is presently in front of the fireplace came from the Second Floor North
Foyer. 533
Eight matching sconces by E.F. Caldwell & Co. are located on the walls in between the
marble pilasters. Each sconce is composed of a lion's head surmounted by three fluted
cornucopias with a glass globe at the top. There is also a pair of figural single globe sconces, one
in each alcove. These fixtures were most likely designed or selected by McKim, Mead &
White. 534 Stanford White supplied the two busts. 535 Other accessories include a Chinese vase
with French gilt-bronze mounts on the mantel, 536 the French clock on the center table, and a
blue planter. 537 There were also originally palm trees all around with four or five vases of
flowers. 538
The 1906 redecoration of the Second Floor Hall by Whitney Warren had a major impact
on the appearance of the Elliptical Hall because of the change in the opening of the light well. 539
The original shape of the opening in the ceiling was rectangular with longer sides oriented
North-South, and semi-circular openings indented at north and south ends. Warren replaced
this scheme with an octagonal opening surrounded by a double row of stone balusters. The
ornament on the ceiling around the opening was copied from the frieze by McKim, Mead &
White, although executed in a flatter style. Drawing #28 by Hall, dated December 28, 1897, "3/4
Scale Detail - (revised) of Light in Floor of Second Story Hall," indicates that the Elliptical Hall
was designed with a metal armature spanning the opening of the well and containing glass. The
armature appears to be slightly domed above the ceiling level and is divided into sections
separated by bands of scrolling ornament. There are rosettes where the bands intersect.
It is also possible that the Elliptical Hall originally had different furnishings. The fact
that the upholstery and trim on the sofas matched that of the draperies in the Living Room
strongly suggests that these pieces were originally in the Living Room. The Elliptical Hall had
532
Some of the rugs were taken by Mrs. Van Alen in 1938-40, and several have been moved
within the house. See Curry Inventory.
533
See Catalogue notes for #3924 and Curry Inventory,46.
534
Caldwell Collection, Cooper-Hewitt Library, Wall Brackets Volume 3, 25 #c-4806, and 18 #c-5133.
The base at the Vanderbilt Mansion has an additional cornucopia around the lion mask and also a
pendant ribbon.
535
According to Mitchell Samuels, these are copies of Louis XIV busts. (Samuels, French & Co.,
1940.)
536
"She [Mrs. Van Alen Bruguiere] pointed to the Chinese vase on the mantel and stated that it
was a fake job done by Mr. Glanzer [sic]. It was a plain Chinese vase, with the bronze or gold
added. She stated that it usually sat on the middle of the hall table but had been placed up there
when she brought the clock into the hall." (Bruguiere, 1948.)
537
The planter should be by the door.
538
Series Historian's Research Notes File, V.C. Vanderbilt Mansion, 1019, cites interview with Mr.
Martin. See also Knauss, List of Flower Arrangements.
539
A perspective drawing showing the new opening with surrounding ornament is the only
drawing that shows the first floor change. There are too many doors in the drawing. It is
believed that the detailing around the wall perimeter of the ceiling, designed by MMW, was
copied by WW for the same detail around the new opening. Frieze of the opening: large
acanthus leaves are separated by a series of flutes with small acanthus leaves within and at the
bottom of each flute. Appears that as designed is same as built in 1906.
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