THE VANDERBILT PALACE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1481, 12 September 1883, Page 2

THE VANDERBILT PALACE.

The following description of the interior of tho Vanderbilt "palace" is given by Mr S. S. W. Benjamin in.the " Magazine of Art":—"The drawingroom is nearly square. It presents what might be called a harmony in crimson and gold. The walls are hung with figured velvet of pale crimson, which in certain lights assumes the effect of peach blossom. The carpet is of the same huo. The vaulted ceiling, which is in pale azure, picked out with goldj With figured'gold in the groihings, is united to the walls by a noble cornice of carved wood, covered with gold and pale metallic green gilding on a ground of mother-of-pearl. Over each of the three massive goldencrusted doors are cherubs, and on either hand of each door-post stands a pillar of onyx, jewel inlaid, supporting a gilded sphere, which encloses a cluster of lights. The abruptness of the angles is modified by an arrangement consisting, of pedestals supporting female figures; one-third the size of life, in solid silver. In either graceful hand these royal. maidens sustain a spear with a' cirolet of jewelled metal attached,'behind which is a diadem of lights, while in rear of each are mirrors of burnished crystal. The west entrance is flanked by two cabinets by Barbedienne, inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl, and bearing five Limoges enamels by. Sayer. A superb gilded table (carved in New York) stands near the southern end; the top is of tho same equisite material as the cabinets. The seats of the Louis Seize chairs are covered with cjstly Chinese embroideries, • A ' cloisonne' cabinet by Barbediennej one of the finest pieces produced in, Europe, and other noble ' objects d'ar.t,' contribute to the magnificence of the drawingroom—the handsomest in all America. When the lights are burning its splendour is akin to the gorgeous dreams of oriental fancy; and yet,, with •all this dazzling opulence, there [is no hintpf tawdriness."