Welcome to the parlour. Are you old enough to be in here? Let me explain why I asked. When the Roedde family lived here, this room was reserved for adult and formal functions and children were seldom allowed to be in here. The only times when the children were allowed in the parlour were to practice the piano or if they were formally invited in by their parents.
The parlour was used as a welcoming room to meet and greet guests. Here, adults would sip tea and engage in polite conversation. Do you have any rooms in your house that you reserve for a greeting and meeting place? Mr. and Mrs. Roedde would also have entertained in this room. Piano recitals, singing concerts, poetry readings, and adult games, such as cards and charades, would have taken place here.
The Parlour Piano
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This room is a very good example of a late Victorian interior. The room displays common Victorian design features such as rich mouldings, and a subdivided ceiling, that is also found in the hall. The wainscotting, which is the paneled woodwork that covers the lower portion of the walls, can also be found in other areas of the house, such as the hall and kitchen. The window trim and the mouldings are quite basic and simple in style. All the woodwork is original to the house and has been carefully restored. Many layers of paint built up over the years; this was removed, and the wood then given an oil finish, close to what originally existed. As with all the wood in the house, the raw lumber would have been in abundant supply and would have come from local forests. The fir and cedar wood used in the house, purchased from local mills, would not have been terribly expensive at the time, but is still beautiful regardless.
The plaster on the walls (including the colour) in this room is similar to the original. The plaster wall was discovered during the restoration after removing several layers of wallpaper that the room had accumulated over the years.
The Clock on the Mantle
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The Roedde Parlour Fireplace |
Take a look around. The mantle over the fireplace features an elegant array of items. It was not only something on which to put trinkets, but a display case to show off one's fine china, pottery, or other art pieces. If you look closely, you will notice that many foreign artifacts are displayed, such as the Japanese enamel vase. During the Victorian era, collecting items from Asia and Africa became very popular. It was not uncommon for a household to own collectibles from countries such as China, Japan, India, and Algeria. Do you own items that come from different countries? These displayed items are not original to the house, but are a good example of what the Roedde family might have used to decorate this elegant room. Together, these treasures would add a feeling of grandness to any room.
The Moulded Ceiling
Blue Vase
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The glass cabinet on the west wall of the room is a fascinating continental piece of furniture. Presently, it contains many kinds of family artifacts, such as heirlooms, photographs, and personal items.
The piano also has many interesting objects displayed upon it. One of the objects actually belonged to the Roedde family - the lamp. Do you recognize her? Her name is Spring. Items such as this lamp give us a glimpse of what the Roedde family would have picked in the decoration of their home. On top of the piano also sits a music box. A European creation, it plays a nice tune, which adds an additional feeling of comfort to the rest of this cozy room.
Glass Case
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