Decorative Arts

 

Henry Francis Du Pont (1880-1969) was born at Winterthur (an estate in northwestern Delaware) with a silver spoon in his mouth. The Du Ponts had made their fortune in the manufacture of gunpowder. H.F. was a sensitive boy who clashed with his authoritarian father who was a mover and shaker. All H.F. wanted to do was raise his prize Holstein-Frisian cattle and garden. When he was 43, he discovered a passion for antique furniture and went nuts (my words).

H.F. eventually collected over 90,000 objects, 87,000 rare books and over 800,000 manuscripts and images. Many times he would install complete rooms that he had collected from old houses that were being torn down. I'm not just talking just about the furniture, he would also take the walls and floors and install them at Winterthur. He had nowhere to put all of his collectables so he added 150 rooms onto the existing 30 room mansion that was Winterthur. He had always wanted to create his own museum. The museum today has the premier collection of American decorative arts in the world.

175 rooms

Each of the rooms were completely furnished

A Piano

H.F. also was an avid gardener and he had the space for it. Winterthur sat on 26,000 acres. There was so much in bloom when we took the shuttle ride through the estate.

H.F. planned this hill so it would change with the seasons. 
I can't quite remember the order but the flowers would change from blue to yellow to white

Daffodils - H.F. wanted to separate the different species of daffodils

Look at this tree.  I think it is a Yulan Magnolia. 
See the little people on the left hand side?

After I left Lou and Davey for the last time, I ended up in the small Pennsylvania town of Bedford. Bedford is in the Pennsylvania mountains and driving, while on interstates, had a lot of ups and downs AND tunnels. I was over and under mountains. As a former weaver, the National Museum of the American Coverlet was calling me. Coverlets are like bedspreads but smaller and most of them are woven. These are not quilts. The museum is located in a 30,000 square foot old school and displays 80 to 100 coverlets at a time. I can't describe how full of awe I was when I walked into the very first room and saw these beautiful coverlets. My heart sang. Look at me waxing all poetic and all.

New England Overshot Double Chariot Wheel

New Hampshire 1838
Weft Loop Weave by Hannah Leathers Wilson

New York Double Weave

Maryland 1842 Double Weave John Gamble

Also in Bedford is Gravity Hill. Gravity Hill is a small little road out in the middle of nowhere. It has a slight slope to it. When you drive to the lowest spot on the road (there is paint on the road saying 'Start Here'), put you car in neutral, the car will start to move all on its own and will look like it is going uphill. Mildly amusing.

As you can see - a very slight slope down