The mantel in Illustration 416 is in the Schuyler mansion in Albany,
New York, which has been wisely and thoroughly restored to its
original beauty, and stands a monument not only of the Albany life
of the eighteenth century, but to the early efficiency of woman, for
it was built in 1760 by the wife of Gen. Philip Schuyler, during the
absence of her husband in England. This mantel is in the room called
the Hamilton room, because it was here that the daughter of the house,
Elizabeth Schuyler, was married to Alexander Hamilton. The wood of
the mantel is, like that in the other rooms, pine, painted white, and
the room is handsomely panelled, with a heavy cornice. The shelf is
narrow with a panel above it which is surmounted by a cornice, with a
broken pediment. The mantel is very dignified and does credit to the
excellent taste of the colonial dame who chose it and superintended its
instalment.
Illustration 417 shows a mantel in Philipse Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The original house was built in the seventeenth century, but in 1745 it
was greatly enlarged by Judge Philipse, the second lord of the Manor,
and it was probably at about that time that the fine woodwork in the
house was installed. Judge Philipse was the father of Mary Philipse, to
whom in 1757 Washington paid court—unsuccessfully. She married Roger
Morris in 1758, and in 1779 fled with him to England, attainted as
Royalists, together with her brother, the third and last lord of the
Manor, which then passed from the Philipse family.
[Illustration: Illus. 417.—Mantel and Doorways in Manor Hall,
Yonkers.]
It was purchased in 1868 by the village of Yonkers, and remained in
the possession of the city until 1908, when the title to the Manor was
taken by the State of New York, and the American Scenic and Historic
Preservation Society was appointed custodian, thus insuring the
preservation of this historic house.
[Illustration: Illus. 418.—Mantel and Doorways in Manor Hall, Yonkers.]
The mantel in Illustration 417 is in the East parlor, where Mary
Philipse was married, and is, like all of the woodwork, painted white
and very finely hand carved, with flowers in high relief. The iron
fire back which was originally in the fireplace is still there, but the
tiles are new.
[Illustration: Illus. 419.—Mantel in Manor Hall, Yonkers.]
The pilasters have composite capitals, and are used as a part of the
decoration of the side of the room with the mantel. The ceiling in
this room, a glimpse of which may be seen in the illustration, is
elaborately decorated with rococo scrolls, framing medallions, in two
of which are portrait heads. The entire house bears evidence of the
wealth of the lords of the Manor.
[Illustration: Illus. 420.—Doorway and Stairs, Independence Hall.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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