Philly 'Gilded Age' mansion to open doors for estate sale June 8-9

Living room; window sill is adorned with bronzes, sculptures, and other objets d’art

RYDAL, Pa. – On Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9, the doors to a historic Victorian mansion in Rydal (metro Philadelphia), Pa., will open its doors to allow visitors rare access inside for a one-time-only buying opportunity. Estate specialists from Stephenson’s Auctions will supervise a fixed-price sale of furniture, bronzes, art and other objects that the home’s late owner chose for its interior décor.

All furniture, fine and decorative art, leather-bound books & more priced for immediate purchase

“Everything is in its place, exactly as the owner arranged it, and each piece is tagged with a price for immediate purchase,” said Stephenson’s Auctions owner Cindy Stephenson.

View of furnishings in a guest bedroom

Built in 1891, the spacious 7-bedroom, 8-bath residence was designed by a noted Philadelphia architect. All of the rooms in the 6,600-square-foot French-style manor house are furnished and will be openly accessible to buyers.

(Left) Landscape painting with mountains and river valley by Samuel Lawson Booth (1836-1928), a listed artist; and large oil-on-canvas painting of Classical ruins

The home’s high-quality, substantially constructed furniture includes many pieces made of cherry wood and mahogany, from well-regarded manufacturers. Upon entering the residence, guests will be greeted by a marble-top, ormolu-decorated Louis XV-style sideboard and gilt-frame mirror.

Chinoiserie secretary in living room

A chinoiserie secretary/desk, Chinese altar tables, chairs, a fine-quality Hickory flame mahogany bedroom suite, long-case clock, Classical-style bronzes, and large, beautifully framed artworks are included in the sale; as are 18th-century leather-bound books and outdoor furniture from the home’s elegant garden area.

Chinese altar table with oil-on-canvas by a Hungarian artist

During the sale, entertainment will be provided by a Schirmer & Son ebony-cased player grand piano – and yes, it’s available to purchase, as well.

Schirmer & Son player grand piano in living room

“We expect a large turnout for this estate sale,” said Stephenson. “It’s not often that the public is invited inside a home this grand and given carte blanche to purchase whatever they wish.”

An example from the late homeowner’s collection of fine leather-bound books

The doors will open on both days at 10 a.m. On Saturday, June 8, all items will be offered for the prices shown on their tags. On Sunday, June 9, remaining items will be discounted. Purchases may be paid for either by cash or credit card.

The estate’s address will be posted to Stephenson’s website at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 7. Visit www.stephensonsauction.com to view images of the estate’s contents.

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