Inquiring readers,
I had the immense pleasure recently of visiting The Breakers, the summer “cottage” of the Cornelius Vanderbilt family in Newport, R.I. Before walking through its marbled halls, I could only imagine the conspicuous consumption this enormous house represented in the gilded age. I was not disappointed.
The social life in Newport during the Edwardian era represented the last gasp of outrageous luxurious living* before income taxes ended the Beau Monde’s competitive spending sprees. The mansion’s, er cottage’s, lavish details of marble, gilt, carved mahogany, and ivory – of furniture, draperies, rugs, and exquisite china – were achieved in only 2 years by a dedicated army of designers, cabinet makers, carpet makers, weavers, gilders, woodworkers, and the like.
Walking through the immense two-story butler’s pantry reminded me of Downton Abbey and how much I miss that series. Has it been only a year since we viewed Carson, head butler, decanting wine and counting the silver plate in his Butler’s Pantry and overseeing the male servants with an unflinching eye?
Make it a general rule always to have every thing in its proper place, as nothing looks worse than to see every thing topsy turvy; this is an English phrase, but the meaning is, to see every thing in its wrong place; for the beauty of a good servant is to have a proper place for every thing that is used in common, that he may know where to lay his hand upon it, when it is wanted; this will be greatly to your advantage. – Robert Roberts, Robert’s Guide for Butlers & Other Household Staff, 1827
I venture to state that The Breakers’ pantry outstrips Downton Abbey’s in size and grandiosity. Let’s visit this late Victorian/pre-Edwardian room (images below) and compare it to our memory of Carson’s domain. I then invite you to join other readers in a poll to share your opinion.
This Thursday in the U.S. we are celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. May you and yours the world over be blessed with loving family and friends. I feel so very lucky in that respect and so did my favorite author, Jane Austen.
Downton Abbey had bells. The Breakers employed electricity. Image by Vic Sanborn, Jane Austen’s World.
The family and guests transmitted their needs and wants in a system reminiscent of Downton Abbey’s. Image by Vic Sanborn, Jane Austen’s World.
Like the servants in Downton Abbey, the servants in the Breakers knew exactly where in the “cottage” the request had originated. To listen to servant first person accounts about their service at The Breakers, click on this link to the Newport Preservation Society’s page.
Flower arrangements were created in the room that connected the kitchen to the butler’s pantry. Image by Vic Sanborn, Jane Austen’s World.
In the image below imagine around 20 sets of china dishes kept in the cabinets in the 2nd story mezzanine.
The family silver was locked up in a safe – all pieces were counted daily because of their value.
Walking into the Butler’s Pantry at The Breakers with its second story mezzanine is breathtaking. Image by Vic Sanborn, Jane Austen’s World.
Cold foods were kept on ice until served. Hot foods were kept in a warmer.
Warm foods were kept in a warmer. Image: Vic Sanborn, Jane Austen’s World
The butler was in charge of decanting the wine. Robert Roberts suggested the following way to clean cut glass decanters:
…you must have a brush to brush the lint which your glass cloth may leave in the cutting, or rough work, then give them a good polish with your shammy leather, and put them away in their proper places…
The footmen and butler had plenty of room to clean the china, silverware, and prepare the trays for guests and family. Image: Vic Sanborn, Jane Austen’s World
The silver was inventoried every evening. The butler kept the key to the wine cellar and had charge of its valuable contents.
*Conspicuous consumption has returned in spades, as witnessed by images displayed by billionaires and their progeny on Facebook pages and the media.
The Breaker’s butler’s pantry vs. Downton Abbey’s
(polls)
The Breaker’s butler’s pantry vs. Downton Abbey’s
(polls)
Additional reading:
- The Breakers and the Gilded Age, Newport Preservation Society, Teacher Resource Guide
- Historic Structures: The Breakers
- Servants and the Servant Question: A Victorian
- Downtown Abbey Reviews on this site
Jane Austen's World 
I voted “other.” I’m a sucker for beautiful wood. The pantry is magnificent
Yeah. I was overwhelmed.
You would probably enjoy visiting the Vanderbilt Mansion on the Hudson River in NY State. It is also superlative!
Thank you. I think I would. Love the Hudson Valley.
I confess, Vic, that it is a grand room. But poor Carson would need a much larger staff and quite possibly a stiff drink or at least some sherry just looking at it. I’ll stick with Downton/Highclere with it’s more understated style. But a great article, nonetheless. :-)
Hi Lynne, I see your point, as do many others, according to the poll. British Aristocracy viewed the Newport excess with some disdain, but this did not prevent them from marrying rich American heiresses to save their own houses. During the gilded age, 2,200 servants worked in the Newport mansions – this in a city of 20,000. Imagine.
I did know that the Brits thought we were a bit over the top with our wealth. And yes, they certainly didn’t mind getting the “Buccaneers” into their families, as we know from DA and other books. But I didn’t realize there were so many employed in service in Newport alone. As Robert would say, “Crikey!”
I think Carson, after that stiff drink, would embrace that pantry-world and send sketches to all of his butler friends–in an understated way, of course. Then if I were he, I’d just move my bed and dresser into one of the galleries. His eyes would pop out~
Kathryn
Hi Vic. I didn’t follow the Downton Abbey series so I don’t know what the downstairs world of Downton looked like but I have visited a few kitchen/ downstairs ,”worlds ,” of some great houses. The kitchens and downstairs parts to Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s home on the Isle of Wight, are very impressive. The kitchen area of Brighton Pavilion, George IV’s (Prince Regent) great Indian /Chinese extravagance is very impressive too. That included all the latest kitchen technology of the early 1800s. George even employed, In 1816, Marie Antonin Carême (a fashionable French chef at the top of his game) to work for him at his London residence, Carlton House, and also at the Royal Pavilion.
Tony, I’ve been to the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and must admit that kitchen, with its “palm tree” columns is unforgettable. I don’t remember the tour taking us to the butler’s pantry – but I imagine there must be one there.
I’ve been to the Breakers, but awhile ago…actually, I think I’ve been to all the Newport “cottages” Tomorrow I am visiting the Downtown Abbey Exhibition in NYC….I love the more “close” quarters of Downtown Abbey….reminded me more of Hyde Park, a Vanderbilt mansion in Hyde Park, NY.
Gracey, I love how accessible this area of Newport is to parking and foot traffic. We only had a 1/2 day, so chose to tour The Breakers over the Marble House, which I also wanted to see. I’m a bit jealous that you saw all the mansions! Newport alone is worth a visit, and the added delight was walking along the ocean “drive” and seeing the lawns slope towards rocky shoreline.
If you want a depiction of conspicuous consumption in spades, Kevin Kwan’s book Crazy Rich Asians is a fun read, and also an interesting depiction of a globally influential culture that doesn’t get much attention from Western media. The young people at the centre of the story are straight out of Mills and Boon, with a good dollop of Mary Sue, but the support cast is hilarious.
Thanks for the tip, Polly. That kind of book is right up my alley!
Continuing the theme of kitchens, when you or any of your friends come over here in the future,Vic, the great Tudor Kitchens at Hampton Court, not far from me, are an unbelievable experience. They comprise of enormous open fires, cauldrons for creating sauces heated by small charcoal furnaces underneath them and small ovens for bread. There are rooms for puddings, mostly sugar creations, the Tudors had bad teeth. The most incredible sugar pudding creations were painted in gold. They made sugar versions of Galleons and Cathedrals believe it or not . Nowadays att Christmas they cook Tudor delights in the Tudor fashion.You can go along and partake of Tudor Christmas fare. They stoke up the enormous open fireplace with logs and roast, venison, pigs and other smaller ,”dead,” ( must emphasise that) animals on the most impressive array of spits.Fruit and vegetables were grown in the vegetable gardens next to the palace. Hampton Court was a complete Tudor world with a whole social hierarchy with that vicious despot Henry at the top. Just don’t marry him. That’s my advice. Ha! Ha!
Ah, the excesses of the rich! Which I shall never experience, Tony, except through house tours and my imagination. I saw Hampton Court years ago, during my honeymoon in the last century (hah!) It’s been so long that it’ll be worth visiting Hampton Court again. I recall the gardens most vividly. We were there on a bright English day in April – no rain and balmy weather.
When you think about it really; it is all rather obscene.
Ostentatious, but Cornelius Vanderbilt seemed a decent sort.
Reblogged this on wildfirewyoming and commented:
Awesome butler’s pantry.
Vic, I’ll comment on this post later. Right now I wanted to comment about the Netherfield Ball, but comments are closed on that post. I just finished watching BBC Pride & Prejudice Having A Ball. Have you seen it? I was appalled to see ladies sitting at the dining table eating with their gloves on! Was that done in Jane Austen’s time, or was that a glaring oversight in this production?
Vic, though I’m disgusted by the excess, I’d have a lot of fun touring the place! :D The fact that they called these outrageous homes “cottages” has always irritated me.