"WELD" - An Estate of Originality - RESIDENCE of LARZ ANDERSON in BROOKLINE, MASS. Little and Brown, Architects

 "WELD" - An Estate of Originality

 RESIDENCE of LARZ ANDERSON in BROOKLINE, MASS. 

Little and Brown, Architects

The conservatory sidewall decorations consist of a series of interesting frescoes, one of which depicts the famous ‘‘Spanish Steps" in Rome leading down to the water. 

A replica of the fountain in Rome, which stands in the Piazza di Spagna, is set among flowering shrubs close up to the wall. The miniature gondola, cut in stone, adds to the realistic effect. The furniture is upholstered yellow brocade.

A marble tiled foyer connects the ballroom with the hall. Here the ceiling is of lattice work with mirrored walls.

 Rich Oriental hangings and exquisitely carved Chinese screens contribute to the beauty and charm of the room.

   In the Chinese ballroom the painted sidewall panels, window, and furniture carry out in detail the Chinese feeling.

A Buddha is a distinct feature of the over-mantel, with bronze Dogs Fu as andirons. The furniture and fireplace seat are covered with black and gold brocade.

   On the third floor of the house is Mrs. Anderson's study. This is distinctly Japanese with walls of smooth, perfectly matched wood, decorated panels and screens. The ceiling is decorated with floral motifs of Japanese origin. The fireplace of blue tile is unique, for it is sunken, a semicircular seat surrounding it.

   The Larz Anderson gardens, which cover many acres of this beautiful estate, are divided into gardens of different character and uses. The  main garden, which joins the house is connected with it by graveled walks and terraces. 

. "The Wild Flower," by Henry Berge.

 

  The facade has several niches, in one of which appears a bronze wall fountain.

A corner the Japanese garden showing a statue of Buddha. Here are little ponds, stepping stones and bridges about which are planted dwarfed trees, iris, and wisteria in a characteristic setting, that has a the charm of a garden Japan.

   Below this lies vegetable and beyond what is known as the lower garden, a natural garden laid out like a park. 

   

ARBOR

   Nearer the road is the Chinese rockery in which is seen a pagoda and an arbor, three hundred feet or more in length, with an arched top, over which are trained cherry trees and grape vines.

A charming feature of pagoda in the Chinese garden is the marble figure of a winsome flower girl with her lap filled with blossoms, looking down into the bird bath below.

https://downeastdilettante.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/this-garden-was-made-in-1901-and-named-weld-2/

https://brooklinehistoricalsociety.org/archives/listPhotos.asp?mainList=archives&subList=Larz

          Erte description of this month's Harper's Bazar cover translated from the French - 

"The thoughts of a young girl—these are beautiful flowers in life's garden. That queen of flowers, the rose, symbolizes them in its short but exquisite career. The young bud offers the bright hope of regal beauty to come; the sumptuous full-blown rose represents the enjoyment of present happiness; the petals falling scented tears, are scattered memories of happiness past. ... Do not the roses adorning the hair of a young girl symbolize the whole cycle of the feminine soul—which consists of hopes, of fleeting joys and of happiness past.... And the thorns, which often prick pretty fingers, have they perfect semblance to the passing dangers and disillusionments which confront every woman? Thorns, like bees hovering about flowers, are but the guardians of beauty. They keep the timid at a distance. But he who loves the rose and admires its beauty will know how to pluck it. And he who loves a woman will never fear that under her tenderness he will find thorns that will scratch him."