"The appropriation for a house should be divided into two equal parts, one-half for the house, the other for the gardens, pathways, court, approach, terrace and the rest of it, or, as it might be termed, one-half for the pudding, the other for the sauce." Architect Thomas Hastings
Sunday, September 15, 2013
ENTRANCE AND BRONZE DOORS OF THE VANDERBILT HOME
ENTRANCE AND BRONZE DOORS OF THE VANDERBILT HOME
Unexpected view of the entrance into 640 and 642 Fifth Avenue. Click HERE to see what was on the other side.
Sadly I think I already know the answer, but any reference as to what became of the doors when Trumbauer renovated and striped the exterior of much of its ornamentation? NYarch
They actually were removed when Frick occupied 640. He opened a door from the spectacular Drawing-room, fronting right onto Fifth. Trumbauer placed the entrance back to the side. At some point when one of the daughters moved out from the other side the remaining daughter redid the place into one. The new entrance would have been on 52nd Street.
Why when virtually every other Vanderbilt mansion has plans available, does this particular building have no plans to be found anywhere? Is there a Trumbauer archive that could be searched?
Sadly I think I already know the answer, but any reference as to what became of the doors when Trumbauer renovated and striped the exterior of much of its ornamentation? NYarch
ReplyDeleteThey actually were removed when Frick occupied 640. He opened a door from the spectacular Drawing-room, fronting right onto Fifth. Trumbauer placed the entrance back to the side. At some point when one of the daughters moved out from the other side the remaining daughter redid the place into one. The new entrance would have been on 52nd Street.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all of your pictures and information about the mansions.
ReplyDeleteDo floorplans exist for them, either as built or renovated?
If floor plans exist for anything I post I always include them. If plans exist for 640 Fifth Aveune I've yet to find them. Thanks
DeleteWhy when virtually every other Vanderbilt mansion has plans available, does this particular building have no plans to be found anywhere? Is there a Trumbauer archive that could be searched?
Delete