The Faces of Glensheen
A look at the faces that grace the hallways of the Historic Congdon Estate.
After photographing most of Glensheen I am often asked what is my favorite object in the house. After some thought, I can still not answer that question. There is so much detail and so much extravagance in the estate, that I cannot choose just one thing. I can barely choose one room that is my favorite. I do, however, have some favorite groups of items or themes that resonate throughout the house. One of these themes, are the faces throughout the art and interior design of the house. The faces that strike me the most are not photographs or paintings (although they are also nice), they are the faces that appear in furniture or sculptures. I wanted to share these pieces with others, but in a way that is not just a series of pictures. So we are going to see how observant some of the Glensheen patrons are. Below are some close ups of the faces of Glensheen, followed by the room that they are located in. How well do you know the faces of Glensheen?
This woman graces this piece in three different places. The braided metal work above her head gives the illusion of hair. This extension of her hair then makes its way to the ceiling above. These ladies have been known to brighten their room from time to time. Which room do these ladies belong to?
These ladies grace the alabaster light fixture that descends from the center of the Reception Room. Other pieces in this room include alabaster, setting a gold and alabaster theme to the first room guests of Glensheen see.
This lovely lady is found on one of many Oriental pieces in the house. This item was purchased by Chester on one of his many trips through Asia. This object is bound in brass and is accentuated with miniature lions. Although one of many, this object is a favorite in one of Glensheen’s largest rooms. Can you remember this face of Glensheen? In which room does this item sit?
This spice cabinet was a gift, one Christmas, from Chester to Clara. Although this piece is a spice cabinet, it never held any. It did, however, hold many of Clara’s sewing supplies. It now sits to the right of the fireplace in the Living Room. Where most spice boxes are hidden away in kitchens or pantries, Clara found this cabinet to be too beautiful to hide away.
This bronze statue, created in 1841, was purchased in 1913 from the Art Institute of Chicago. Its life size version can be seen in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. Known as “The Medicine Man,” this piece is the second of four pieces created by Cyres Edwin Dallin. All four pieces are meant to bring light to the issues between Native Americans and the expansion of the White man. In which room does The Medicine Man keep watch?
The Medicine Man can be found in Chester’s Smoking Den. He sits atop the fireplace mantel looking west. At the base of the sculpture is the inscription of the artist’s name and the year he was created. He rides his horse with his arm raised as a warning to his people.
This piece contains six cherubs in total. Each cherub is surrounded by a pair of wings. The gray faces stand out from the gold and tan hues of the piece. Cherubs are sometimes associated with peace, leisure, and knowledge. The room in which this object rests conveys these beliefs. This piece sits on Glensheen’s main floor, but what type of piece is it? Which room does this piece sit?
The cherubs are part of a much larger lamp. This lamp can be seen in Glensheen’s Library. The tan and gold match several items of the Library. However, this lamp is the only item to include cherubs in the room.
These two men are separate pieces that are a part of a set. This duo is made from bronze, and is known to depict a popular piece of Italian literature. Each statue stands about two feet tall. While good sized statues themselves, they sit atop pillars in which area of the house?
These faces belong to Virgil & Dante. These two are the main characters of Dante Alighieri’s work “The Divine Comedy”. Virgil is Dante’s guide through Inferno (Hell) and Purgatory. Dante & Virgil stand on each side of the Female Guest Room on the second floor of the estate.
This piece was given to Clara as a gift from her children in 1931. It depicts Clara while she is working on her needlework. Clara kept this piece close to her. In which room is this version of Clara on display?
This depiction of Clara sits in the Master Bedroom of Glensheen. Although she can be missed in this large room, she sits atop a metalic box, giving her more prominence. One of the more sentimental pieces in the home, it was likely kept close, and now graces the Chester and Clara’s room.
Glensheen is so large that often the little details go unseen. But when you have the chance to slow down and take your time, you can see how much effort went into designing and decorating every single room. Through items collected on trips, as well as personal items, the estate continues to tell the story of the life of the Congdon family.
