Virtual Stroll Through Villa Finale: Library, Dining Room, Bar
Among the fascinating items contained in these rooms are religious icons, snuff boxes, and family silver.
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Library
Villa Finale's Library contains over 2,000 books and many other fascinating collections. (Scroll down to see collections highlights for this room.)
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La Lampe Loie Fuller
A gilt bronze figural lamp of American dancer, Loie Fuller.
La Lampe Loie Fuller by Larche, RaoulVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
La Lampe Loie Fuller
A gilt bronze figural lamp of American dancer, Loie Fuller, cast from the model by Raoul Larche and stamped, "Scosiot De Cauville, Paris" serial no.8760.
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St. Francis Xavier Lamp
This figure was fitted as a lamp by Walter Mathis.
Frances Xavier lampVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
St. Francis Xavier Lamp
Spanish Colonial and polychrome-painted and parcel-gilt santo figure of St. Francis Xavier, from the 19th century. The figure was fitted as a lamp by Walter Mathis. The saint appears in the form of a bearded priest dressed in the Jesuit tradition.
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Wall of Russian Icons
The Library wall leading into the Dining Room is lined with Russian Icons.
Russian Icon Depicting Jesus by UnknownVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
Russian Icon Depicting Jesus
One of these icons is of Jesus painted with oil on board with silvered-metal okhlad that allows the painted face and hands to be seen. The silver cover portrays the robes of the figure, a decorative semi-circle around the head and a geometric border.
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Dining Room
Villa Finale's Dining Room contains most of Mathis' silver collection and other European pieces. (Scroll down to see collections highlights for this room.)
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Regency Giltwood Mantle Mirror
Regency style giltwood over mantel mirror from the 19th century.
Regency Giltwood Mantle MirrorVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
Mantle Mirror Showing Damage from Bombings
Mathis acquired this and two other matching mirrors while serving overseas in France. The three mirrors were found in a bombed-out chateau. Mathis paid for the mirrors with whatever he had in his pockets; they were shipped to the United States years later.
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Sweetmeat Dishes
Lapis two-tiered sweetmeat dish (one of two in room) from the early 19th century (c.1820).
Sweetmeat Dishes by Thomire, Pierre-PhilippeVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
Empire Ormolu and Lapis Sweetmeat Dish
Contains a circular ring above a two-tiered scalloped circular rest supported by three Classical style kneeling maidens holding flower baskets. Signed "Thomire a Paris".
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Suez Canal Table Set
Table set featuring silver camels and red and clear Bohemian glass. The pieces were allegedly made in England to commemorate the opening of the Suez canal in 1869. The camels on the compotes are an homage to Egypt.
Suez Canal Table Set (circa 1869) by UnknownVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
One of a table set featuring silver camels
Walter Mathis believed these pieces were at the opening of the Canal, and were possibly on a barge to pass through its waters or an one of the many celebrations held at Port Said. Mathis knew Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, had been at the opening of the Canal.
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Wall of Onderdonk Paintings
Most of these paintings were by father and son, Robert and Julian Onderdonk.
Woman with Chickens by Onderdonk, Robert JenkinsVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
Woman with Chickens
Oil on canvas painting mounted to a pressed-wood panel by Robert Onderdonk. The painting depicts a woman with a red headscarf feeding hens in a yard, with trees and a house in the background.
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The Bar
Mathis used his pantry as a bar. His favorite drink: Cherry Pepsi and Myers Rum. (Scroll down to see collections highlights for this room.)
Cut-to-Clear DecanterVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
Cut-to-Clear Decanter
A cobalt cut to clear glass decanter with knop stem and a pointed finial.
Peacock LampVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
Peacock Lamp
Metal and bead lamp in the shape of a peacock with blue and amber feathers that hide two light bulbs. When turned on the beaded feathers glow.
Souvenir Spoon, Mexican CathedralVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
Souvenir Spoon, Mexican Cathedral
Spoon's bowl is decorated with a low relief of a cathedral "Great Cathedral of Mexico", the handle with two figures and the seal of Mexico and "Recuerdo de Mexico" and "Rebuplica Mexicana". Stamped "Sterling" on back.
Napoleon Platter by Wahliss, ErnstVilla Finale: Museum & Gardens
Napoleon Platter
A Viennese 'Napoleonic' subject platter, with maker's mark in red 'Ernst Wahliss". The platter has a gilt-highlighted teal vermicelli and cream ground, with an inner floral spray cartouche border surrounding a reserve depicting three Napoleonic battle vignettes.
