Aloha to the Hammond Harwood House - the Jewel of Annapolis (part 1)

Hammond Harwood House
Image by Chuckatuck (link)

On New Year's Eve Day, we visited the Hammond Harwood House - the Jewel of Annapolis.  From its website (link),

The Hammond-Harwood House is a five part Anglo-Palladian (derived from 16th Italian architect Andrea Palladio) mansion that features some of the best woodcarving and plasterwork in America.

The house located at 19 Maryland Avenue was begun in 1774 by the gentleman planter Matthias Hammond. Ardently favoring the cause for freedom, Hammond was elected to the Maryland government in 1773. At the same time, he had begun working with renowned architect William Buckland on plans for a new, elegant townhouse in the most fashionable area of Annapolis.

The house was decorated for the holidays by several garden clubs.

Here's a gingerbread replica of the main house flanked by "hyphens" (connecting halls) to the outerwings. 

The first level bedroom, overlooking Maryland Street, was decorated ala WWII, saluting the Navy ....

... as Annapolis is home to the US Naval Academy.   

Across the hall, an office was decorated ala 1783 when General Washington arrived in Annapolis (the first national capital) to resign his commission before accepting the presidency. Perhaps he stopped by the Hammond Harwood House for a refreshment from the wassail bowl before preceeding to the Capital Building.

Washington's portrait was painted by Charles Wilson Peale, a notalbe Marylander who painted many leaders of the American Revolution.

The dining room was bright and beautiful ...

... with sweet treats for Christmas dinner!

Holiday cheer under the Christmas tree ...

... and cookies for Santa on the antique desk.

Do you have ginger bread, paper chains, or wassail bowl in your home?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4, at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Across the street is the Chase Lloyd House,

also built by William Buckland.

Aloha to the Winterthur Museum and Yuletide Decorations (part 2)

Continuing our tour of the Winterthur Museum, home of Henry Du Pont in Delaware (link),

Glimpse into activities such as the afternoon gift opening in the Marlboro Room, early evening caviar and cocktails, dinner in the glittering du Pont dining room, midnight card games, and dancing—all set against the backdrop of spectacular decorations and magnificent floral displays, which H. F. du Pont called “the Christmas Show.”

Outside on the enclosed glass patio, pointsettias bloom in the sun.

Inside, we found several themed trees ...

... in all colors ...

... including the floral tree to represent Du Pont's interest in horticulture.

Here's tea service in the house ...

... and tea service at the visitor's center.  We enjoyed yummy treats!

Do you have a favorite tea flavor or tea treat?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4, at SOS Aloha.

Mahao,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to the Winterthur Museum and Yuletide Decorations (part 1)

 

My mother and I visited the Winterthur Museum in Delaware. Here are a few more pictures from the Downton Abbey Costume Exhibit ...

... including the famous bell system.

Love Cora's attitude!

From the Winterthur website (link),

Almost 60 years ago, collector and horticulturist Henry Francis du Pont (1880–1969) opened his childhood home, Winterthur, to the public. Today, Winterthur (pronounced “winter-tour”) is the premier museum of American decorative arts, with an unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America between about 1640 and 1860. The collection is displayed in the magnificent 175-room house, much as it was when the du Pont family lived here, as well as in permanent and changing exhibition galleries.

Winterthur is set amidst a 1,000-acre preserve of rolling meadows and woodlands. Designed by du Pont, its 60-acre naturalistic garden is among America’s best, with magnificent specimen plantings and massed displays of color. Graduate programs and a preeminent research library make Winterthur an important center for the study of American art and culture. 

We entered the family home to view the Yuletide decorations and fabulous antiques.  

I want a chair like this for my gloves and purse!

Here's the servants' breakfast room.  Notice the bakelite radio (light colored) on the buffet.

The dining room was filled with Americana ...

... including six tankards made by Paul Revere.

Guests retired to the Chinese room for after dinner music.  Du Pont found rare Chinese wallpaper in Paris, still rolled up, and brought it back to Winterthur.

The wallpaper was exquisite ...

... along with the floral arrangements to represent Du Pont's horticulture skills.

Do you have any floral arranges (live or dried) in your home?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.   Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4, at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Winterthur Yuletide

Aloha to the Winterthur Museum and Downton Abbey Costume Exhibit

For Christmas, I gave my mother tickets to the Downton Abbey Costume Exhibit at the Winterthur Museum.   From its website (link),

Founded by Henry Francis du Pont, Winterthur (pronounced “winter-tour”) is the premier museum of American decorative arts, reflecting both early America and the du Pont family’s life here. Its 60-acre naturalistic garden is among the country’s best, and its research library serves scholars from around the world. We invite you to visit and explore this place of beauty, history, and learning.

Costumes of Downton Abbey is an original exhibition of exquisite designs from the award-winning television series. Approximately 40 historically inspired costumes from the television show will be displayed and supplemented by photographs and vignettes inspired by the fictional program and by real life at Winterthur.

Above is Highclere Castle, the film location for Downton Abbey.

Anna's housemaid costume

Summer dresses for Lady Sybil and Lady Mary

 Matthew's suit

Bates' apron

O'Brien's uniform

Hunting tweeds

 Ladies' dresses for church

Ladies' coats

Dresses for Lady Edith's wedding

including Lady Sybil's bridesmaid dress

Lady Mary's bridesmaid dress

Edith's wedding dress

How about afternoon tea?

Mrs. Patmore's kitchen

The girls admiring new fashion 

including harem pants

The Dowager Countess' dress (right) 

Carson's uniform

The night Matthew proposed to Mary

 The exhibit includes quotes from the series.

Cora:  Nobody warns you about bringing up daughters.
You think it's going to be like Liltte Women but instead 

they're at each other's throats from dawn 'til dusk.

Perhaps the girls fought over jewelry.

Lady Rose's dress

  

The three matrons - Mrs. Crawley, the Dowager Countess,

and Mrs. Levinson.  Their dresses were "normal" sizes 

while the younger actresses were exceptionally thin.

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Downton Abbey - do you have a favorite character?  If not a fan of Downton Abbey, do you have a favorite costume from the exhibit?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4, at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Souvenirs available in the museum shop