NEW HOPE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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 victorian music room 1850-1875

Picture
The center placement of the marble top rosewood table was typical of Victorian parlors. The suite of furniture, consisting of the settee, table and chairs are covered in black horsehair cloth, is Early Belter style. John Henry Belter, who worked in Brooklyn, devised such a unique way of steaming, forming and laminating the rosewood backs of his chairs that his name is attached to all pieces of this style. The chairs tend to be low to the floor to allow ladies to sit gracefully in spite of the large hoop and crinoline skirts of the period.

The New York rosewood box piano, made by the Raven Bacon Company, is still very playable. The music stand shows the sheet music of the popular tunes of the day. The large Gilt Pier Mirror, which belonged to the Parrys, is a Philadelphia piece made by James S. Earle and is one of the finest of its kind.

Lighting had progressed to kerosene as reflected in the Waterford crystal chandelier. This chandelier was fitted for gaslight and then later converted for electricity. Cornelius of Philadelphia made the sets of girandole candleholders on the mantle and piano.
The room has a Gothic Revival influence as seen in the antique Scotch ingrain carpet, the little hall chair near the coal stove and the stove itself. The heavily draped windows and elaborate curtains all add to the "Victorian" feeling of the room. The curtain rods and holders were found in the house.

The engraving of General Grant and his family resulted from his popularity after the Civil War when he was a national hero. The painting over the mantle is titled "The Peacemaker" and is thought to be of young George Washington breaking up a fight between his friends.

Over the piano is a classic painting thought to be by Asher Brown Durand of the Hudson River Valley School of Painting. By the door is a charcoal sketch of Richard Randolph Parry at age 25.

The Victorians loved knickknacks. Note the Napoleonic French porcelain palette clock, the needlepoint picture with silver leaf backing, the papier-mâché table and the ladies fire screen fans. The English porcelain in the corner cupboard is Victorian Chelsea and consists of two different patterns.

Miss Gertrude Parry, who gave frequent musicales in this room, owned the folding brown silk parasol. In our archives we have a 1880 photo of this room. It looked very similar except the photo showed an upright piano and a cat.

Location

​Free Public Tours of the Mansion

House is open for Weekend Tours May- November

Contact Us

New Hope Historical Society
PO Box 41
45 South Main Street
New Hope, PA 18938

Phone:
(215) 862-5652
  • HOME
    • About Us
    • Board Members
    • Contact/Directions
    • Newsletters
    • Past Presidents
    • Private Log In
  • HISTORY
    • Did You Know?
    • New Hope History
    • Who Was Benjamin Parry?
    • NHHS - Photo History >
      • Photo Archives
    • Oral History
  • MANSION TOURS
    • Info about our Guided Tours
    • 1775-1800 >
      • Colonial Entrance Hall
      • Colonial Kitchen
      • Colonial Bedroom
    • 1800-1825 >
      • Federal Drawing Room
      • Federal Bedroom
    • 1825-1850 >
      • Empire Dining Room
      • Empire Bedroom
    • 1850-1875 >
      • Victorian Music Room
      • Victorian Bedroom
    • 1875-1900 >
      • Child's Room
  • JOIN - DONATE
    • Annual Giving Fund
    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Business Members
    • Community Links
    • Volunteer
  • EVENTS
    • CALENDAR
    • EXHIBITS
    • GARDEN TOUR >
      • 2019 Garden Tour >
        • 2019 Garden Tour Sponsors
        • SPONSOR
        • 2019 Photo Contest
      • 2018 SILVER JUBILEE
      • 2017 Garden Tour >
        • 2017 TOUR PHOTOS
        • 2017 TOUR SPONSORS
        • 2017 SPONSOR PHOTO
        • 2017 COMMITTEE PHOTO
        • 2017 H&G Tour Photos
      • 2016 Garden Tour Photos
      • 2015 Garden Tour Photos
      • 2014 Garden Tour Photos
      • 2013 Garden Tour Photos
    • SPEAKER SERIES >
      • 2020 Speaker Series
      • 2019 Speaker Series
      • 2018 Speaker Series
      • 2017 Speaker Series >
        • Speaker Series Photos
  • TICKETS & GIFTS