Winterthur: Yuletide at the Mansion (11/24/2023)

Friday, November 24, 2023 (continued)

The land was purchased by Éleuthère Irénée du Point (E I du Pont) c 1810, and was used for farming and raising sheep. Part of the estate was sold to E I's business partner, Jacques Antoine Bidermann and his wife Evelina Gabrielle du Pont (daughter of E I). A Greek Revival house was built (1839-1842) and the estate was named for Bidermann's ancestral home, Winterthur in Switzerland.

Now, pay attention. Bidermann's son then sold the estate to his Uncle Henry du Pont, who was buying it for his son Henry Algernon du Pont. Henry A and his wife enlarged the house and the property. Their son, Henry Francis du Pont inherited the estate in 1927. Henry Francis and his wife tripled the size of the house, incorporating architectural elements salvaged from 17th, 18th, and 19th century American homes in the region. Plus we know H F is a collector. In 1951, H F opened the home as a museum, and

continued collecting until his death in 1969.

The Winterthur Yuletide at the Mansion tour began in
the Conservatory, and it was touted that there would be
Christmas trees and dresses inspired by Ann Lowe

Inside the Conservatory with Preserving
Beauty (by Heidi Militana and the Winterthur
Floral Team), the annual Dried Flower Tree
decorated with dried flowers from the gardens

Montmorenci Staircase was purchased
from a plantation in NC in 1897

Patching Together Tradition (2023, by Asata
Maisé Beeks) and the twin trees are by
Heidi Militana and Winterthur Floral Team

All Dressed in White (by Heidi and Team)
was inspired by the wedding
dress of Jackie Kennedy

This room had the Chinese wallpaper with
a non-repeating pattern making it more of
a 360-degree mural; but we are distracted by
the tree (recognize the dress?) and flowers

Another view of the Chinese wallpaper

Magnolia Blossoms Blooming (2023,
by Asata Maisé Beeks)

Magnolia Blossoms Blooming
(tree by Mack Truax)

Complex Narratives (by Heidi and Team)
was inspired by a particular Ann Lowe dress

Candlestick collection

Glamorous Gladioli (2023, by Asata Maisé Beeks)

Woman Behind the Thread (by Jeni Jackson)

Blooming Velvet (2023, by
Shawn Baron Pinckney)

Miniature tree with quilled paper ornaments

Close-up of a quilled paper ornament

Pretty in Pink (by Mack Truax) was
inspired by an Ann Lowe pink satin dress,
and H F perhaps favored pink for his orchids

Feather Fantasy (by Heidi and Team)\
was inspired by a dress Ann Lowe
decorated with feathers

Close up of Feather Fantasy (KSS)

Winter scene in the Mudroom?

No explanation for this tree, but Ann Lowe
herself always wore a hat

The Museum Store

Winterthur Mansion, of which we saw the fifth and
fourth floors out of nine floors; there are 175 rooms

We will have to check out the gardens another day.