Powder Room: The furniture is French and the mirror paintings are replicas of those on the walls of Marie Antoinette's boudoir at her palace in France. The paintings were done by Prof. Pompeo Coccia who came at the Penn's request from Rome, Italy and spent several months completing work in this room and in the Breakfast room. The light fixture is French in the chinoisere (Chinese) style.
Dining Room: The walls and ceiling are whitewashed Swedish pine. The grape clusters on the ceiling were hand carved. The oil painting over the fireplace is of Betsy Penn. The mahogany table is Duncan Phyfe style and the chairs are of the Adam Period (1760-1792). The English Regency style breakfront and sideboard are rosewood and mahogany. Statuettes in the breakfront are Capo-di Monte porcelain. Plates on each side are Chinese. Plates in the middle are English. The urns on either side of the French doors are Dutch, circa 1750.
Solarium Hall: The door frames at either end of the hallway are carved walnut of the Italian Renaissance period. The console tables, flower fonts and floor lamp bases are of sculptured Carrara marble. The flower fonts are 16th century. The two 15th century Chinese frescos are three-dimensional and made of ivory and leather on a black velvet background. On the console table is a cast iron head of Buddha made in China. The 16th century Spanish powder horn is made from the shoulder bone of an animal and is intricately etched. The 13th century East Indian marble relief depicts the birth, life and death of Buddha.
Mud Room: The Penn's came into this room after horseback riding (muddy boots could not harm stone floors). Also cocktails were usually served to guests in here before dinner. The painting of the bull over fireplace is from Athens, Greece. The sofa is made out of part of a cart bought in Sicily. A carved Swedish chest was cut to fit the front of the bar. On the wall is a collection of 16th and 17th century Spanish spurs and bits. The center table made of Yew wood is 17th century Dutch as is the applique copper milk can. The English cockfight chair is 18th century. The two large brass storage vessels are Chinese and Indian. The animal skin in the corner, the drum and the spear over the door are African. |
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Entry: This space was built to display the Mosaic of Moses that was inherited by Betsy Penn. The carved front doors are from Venice, Italy.
Main Living Room: According to Betsy Penn the room started out to be "a Spanish room" but as their collection grew the 55' by 35' room became representative of many countries. The columns at the entrance are sculptured Italian stone of the Renaissance period and the canopy is set with antique Spanish tiles that tell the story of Don Quixote - one of Jeff Penn's favorite's. The wood panels covering the lower part of the walls is pecky cypress from Florida. The 17th century. tapestry of Moses receiving the Ten Comrnandments was woven in Beauvais, France. The overhead light fixtures are Chinese temple lanterns. The painting on the ceiling beams was done by a Scandinavian artist.
Breakfast Room: The room is Italian/Pompeii in style. The walls and ceiling were painted by Professor Pompeo Coccia from Rome, Italy (note wall where he signed his work). The painted ceiling figures represent the four seasons. The floor is a marble mosaic. The mahogany table is Chippendale style and the chairs are Louis XVI (1774-1793). The candelabra and tureen are Dresden porcelain. Gilded wood panther heads are believed to be of African origin. Wall sconce face figures represent Bacchus, "Greek God of Wine" The massive Lighting fixture in the ceiling is covered by leaded glass and is now florescent but originally was not. Notice light and views provided by the walI of bay windows.
Master Bedroom: The furniture is Italian and French. The molded, carved gilt wood floor screen, console table and large mirror are all Florentine, 17th century. The arm chair is Louis XV (1715-1774) and the wing back chair is Louis XVI (1774-1793). The statuettes on the mantle are Italian 18th century, French. On the far wall are two Japanese scroll watercolors. Fur throw on bed is vicuna. The ornately carved bed, quite large for the Penn's time, was not an antique when the Penn's purchased it from a friend but was made in Italy.
Staircase: The wrought iron staircase railing contains the JBP monogram and chinquapin leaves. Mounted on the oak paneling above the staircase is a 17th century Flemish tapestry.
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