File:Domestic architecture of the American colonies and of the early republic (1922) (14595673998).jpg

Identifier: domesticarchite00kimb (find matches)
Title: Domestic architecture of the American colonies and of the early republic
Year: 1922 (1920s)
Authors: Kimball, Fiske, 1888-1955 New York. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Committee on Education
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic Architecture, Colonial
Publisher: New York, C. Scribner's Sons
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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Figure 213. Mantel from the Eagle house, HaverhillIn the Metropolitan Museum derived from the artistic fashion of the time in England and France—the style ofthe brothers Adam and of Louis XVI. Instead of the luxuriant curves of shell-work which had preceded, it employed classical motives, such as mythological fig-ures, griffins, urns, medallions, and slender garlands of husks or of drapery. 254 HOUSES OF THE EARLY REPUBLIC This elaborate and tenuous plastic decoration made demands beyond the skillof most of the native craftsmen. The books which popularized the new style inAmerica, such as the later works of William Pain, gave models for the general I
Text Appearing After Image:
Figure 214. Interior door at the Woodlands. 1788Courtesy of Ogden Codman treatment of mantels and other features, but not such full-size details as wouldenable men unfamiliar with the style to carve the ornament successfully. Thecement stucco and plaster compositions developed by the Adams and others inLondon, however, were reproduced in moulds for application as needed, and the 255 AMERICAN DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE wide diffusion of many elaborate motives, absolutely identical, shows that theseornaments were shipped to all parts of America. As one example among many, wemay cite the small baskets of fruit and flowers, of which identical examples maybe found in Germantown and in the Barton Myers house in Norfolk. Such orna-ments were occasionally mentioned in inventories or offered for sale. Thus amongthe contents of the great house of Elias Hasket Derby, who died in 1799, is listed:One box Composition Ornaments broken sets $20;1 and, among the effects ofSamuel Mclntire, its designer and

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