Showing some more detail of the sensory overload in the Oval Drawing Room, this is a close up of the Georgian Gothic crown molding. The museum tour indicates this is made of plaster with 22 Carat gold leaf.

A wider view shows the rounding of the corner and the top corner framing of the panel mirrors.

From the hallway the Oval Drawing Room glows with natural light when the sun is shining, as it was this day.  The room to the left is the Withdrawing Room, which runs across the entire front of the house.

This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.

Photos taken October 13, 2021

Additional posts of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum

The Oval Drawing Room on the second floor of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum is something of a sensory overload.

Every type of architectural detail is decorated–the gilded cornice, the door frames, the frames around the window.

In addition to helping reflect the candlelight of the era, the panel mirrors were another statement of wealth.

I suspect they were also disorienting to late night party attendees.

This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.

Photos taken October 13, 2021

Additional posts of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum

The Oval Drawing Room on the second floor of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum embodies the flaunt-it lifestyle of the mercantile elite of the late 1700s – early 1800s Charleston.

The tea set has plenty of its own bling, with opulent decoration.

Panel mirrors and cornice gilding helped brighten the room for after dinner parties, reflecting candle light.

This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.

Photos taken October 13, 2021