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Parlour - Kitchen Dining Room - Bedroom Den - Activities |
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The Front Hall
We think the slate-top table was originally a washstand, but you would never know to look at it!
Wow! Some of these things are really old, but they look as good as new! We know they won't last forever, because nothing does, but with the proper care and attention they should be on display for another century or two at least! To learn more about how time affects different objects and what we can do about it, try the activity below!
The first thing you notice when you step inside Roedde House is the statuette of Aurora on the staircase newel post. Aurora's a great centerpiece, but there are other
interesting objects in the hall besides her. The design on the hanging tapestry looks like it was woven by hand, but it wasn't. The decoration is actually painted on. The outdoor setting, detail, and bright colours in the painting reflect the 19th century Pre-Raphaelite movement in English art. The cast brass mirrors were a product of the French Renaissance Revival. Many came from New York City in the late 19th century. Sometimes the maker's
trademark and country of origin were stamped on the back.
The small couch in the front hall, called a settee, was made between 1910 and 1920. We often think of furniture and other things from that era as being handcrafted, but the settee was made in a factory. Even in the 19th century, there were European factories that were well equipped with machinery to 
create many parts at the same time, much like an assembly line would today. Handwork still came in handy, though, for specialty areas such as carved details. Most likely, the cranberry hanging light fixture was originally fitted for candles or oil. It could be raised or lowered on its chains, to make it easy to access the interior and light the wick. Often such fixtures were kept and converted to electric when homes were modernized.
As a table, it probably was part of a big bedroom suite that could have included a wardrobe, washstand, dressing table, cheval mirror, bed, night stand and chest of drawers. Such furnishing suites often got split up by families over years of inheritances.
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