National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
green rug with a border was made in India according to Margaret Van Alen. 613 Lighting consists
of a pair of porcelain foo dogs mounted for electricity, a large pierced brass chandelier, a silver
sconce (possibly reused from one of Frederick's yachts), three floor lamps, and a Chinese vase
mounted as a table lamp. 614
The room is decorated with many accessories that contribute to the more casual nature
of the room. For example, the mounted deer and elk heads are more reminiscent of Adirondack
decor, and one wonders if Frederick brought them here after he sold his Adirondack Camp. 615
The rifles and daggers also suggest the decor of a lodge, although they appear to have come from
Frederick's New York City house at 459 Fifth Avenue. 616 The Staffordshire clock garniture also
came from 459 Fifth Avenue, as did the andirons. 617 The ceramics in the room include beer
steins, 618 three vases on the ledge above the bookcase, 619 and two Japanese vases by the fireplace.
The bookcases are filled with Frederick and Louise's books. The subject matter of the books
ranges from novels bound in sets, to history, poetry, reference, and literary criticism. Lastly
there was a Philco radio. 620
The only major change that appears to have occurred in the Den is the removal of the seat
and arms of the built-in bench that was replaced with a chintz-covered sofa. This alteration
was probably done in 1915 at the same time that a similar bench was removed in the Lobby.
The back of the bench remains in place below another tapestry panel. There was also a pair
of carved walnut round-back chairs with tapestry seats. 621 During the last quarter of the
nineteenth century the "den" evolved from the gentleman's smoking room and the library
612
Curry Inventory, 16.
613
Van Alen, 1940.
614
Frederick had many Oriental vases, a number of them were mounted as lamps. It is probable that he
collected these objects. Some early ones may have been purchased from Glaenzer while later ones were
purchased from Duveen. It is also likely that E.F. Caldwell & Co. mounted and electrified them.
615
There are picture nails above all three heads suggesting that there was something else hanging there.
The piece of carving on the south wall still hangs from a picture nail.
616
Two daggers are visible in the view of the Dining Room from 459 Fifth Avenue, William H. Vanderbilt
Residence, later Frederick W. Vanderbilt Residence, New York City. The photograph BHA4-02047 is in
the collection of Biltmore. The photograph probably dates to circa 1880. According to Mitchell Samuels,
the guns are very important. (Samuels, French & Co., 1940.)
617
These pieces were a wedding gift from Mrs. William H. Vanderbilt. (Van Alen, 1940.) Elsewhere Mrs.
Van Alen Bruguiere said the three Staffordshire pieces on the mantel and the two Chinese vases alongside
the fireplaces were gifts from her grandmother Mrs. Charles Anthony. VAMA mansion cards (no #)
January 25, 1957, quoting Bruguiere visit May 17, 1948, memo by GAP? They are visible in a photograph
of the Den at 459 Fifth Avenue, William H. Vanderbilt Residence, later Frederick W. Vanderbilt
Residence, New York City. The photograph BHA4-02044 is in the collection of Biltmore. The
photograph probably dates to circa 1880. According to Margaret Van Alen, the china over the mantel was
"exceptionally fine Chinese vases" that came from 459 Fifth Avenue. (Van Alen 1940.) On a later visit
Mrs. Van Alen Bruguiere stated: "that the three Staffordshire pieces on the mantel and the two Chinese
Vases alongside the fireplace were gifts to Mr. Vanderbilt from her grandmother, Mrs. Charles Anthony."
(Bruguiere, 1948.)
618
There should be five or six more steins.
619
The vases were a Christmas gift from William H. Vanderbilt. (Van Alen, 1940.)
620
Curry Inventory, 15.
621
These chairs are recorded in Curry Inventory, 1938, but missing in Alfred F. Hopkins, "Inventory of
Furniture and Furnishings in the Vanderbilt Mansion," July 1940, Resource Management Records, ROVA
Archives, (Hopkins, 1940 hereafter).
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