Tag Archives: Charleston

Nathaniel Russell House Staircase, First Floor

January 30, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

For such an amazing architectural beauty, this staircase is in a very small space, making it is difficult to photograph it all. Standing underneath and looking up provides an interesting view.

This view shows a small door to the outdoors, which seems out of place. The light shining out of the underside of the staircase allows a view of the construction.

Cantilevered Staircase, First Floor, Trap Door to Root Cellar in Floor

And it sticks out on the other side of the staircase, just like the window in my post about the second floor view.

This is that little door from the outside. One of the museum volunteers told me this was used to access the root cellar, again a bit of practical over maintaining full symmetry.

I’m 5′ 8″ (1.7 M) and when I stood on the step of this door my hair would have grazed the header if I could have stepped in.

Nathaniel Russell House Museum, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023

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

Additional posts of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum

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Nathaniel Russell House Staircase, Second Floor

January 29, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Built in 1808, the design of a Charleston merchant’s home was all about symmetry. And impressing your neighbors, like this three-story, cantilevered, flying staircase was intended to do.

Window Behind the Cantilevered Staircase, Second Floor

Sometimes, reality didn’t match the rules, and this window is not evenly placed behind the staircase. But it does illustrate that the staircase doesn’t touch the wall for support.

This window seen from the outside, taken from what is now the narrow driveway to the back of the property. My back was at the wall of the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church next door and the trees reflected in the glass are in the graveyard.

Nathaniel Russell House Museum, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023

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

Additional posts of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum

Building

French Huguenot Church, Pink

January 29, 2023 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

Yes, it is pink. And pretty dramatic looking in the Gothic Revival style.

French Huguenot Church, Charleston, Ted just visible in lower right

A gap in vehicle and pedestrian traffic, no leaves on the Crepe Myrtles, and a beautiful sky came together on Friday for an unusual photo opportunity of this landmark.

The church sits across Church street from the Dock Street Theater, and as a fan of reflection images I couldn’t pass this up.

French Huguenot Church Reflected in Dock Street Theater Window

French Huguenot Church, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023

This and That

Oval Drawing Room, Revisited 2023

January 28, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

The symmetry and bling of the historic Nathaniel Russell House is on full display in the oval drawing room.

Oval Drawing Room Ceiling and Chandelier

I am fascinated by these tri-column mirror panels. Rather like a fun-house mirror, just shifting your position an inch or two changes the scene. Here, triplicates of a music stand with varying amounts of a standing harp next to it.

Despite the wealth and import business that would have allowed the Russells to have mahogany doors, the hallway doors are faux. The skill and expense of applying the design to a pine door was valued over real mahogany.

Nathaniel Russell House Museum, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023

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

Additional posts of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum

Building

Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist: New Inside

July 8, 2022 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist had been repairing decaying plaster work on the ceiling the last time I was inside. The repairs and painting were part of a larger project which I believe was completed sometime in 2020 or early 2021.

What a difference!

For comparison, one of the images I posted from a 2018 visit:

Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Charleston, SC

This and That

Tea Set Bling

January 13, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Another room of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum that is a show off, including this gold decorated tea set.

The Nathaniel Russell House Museum embodies the flaunt-it lifestyle of the mercantile elite of late 1700s – early 1800s Charleston, SC. The house has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.

Photos taken October 13, 2021

This and That

Oval Drawing Room, 3 Details

December 4, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

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

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Oval Drawing Room, 2

December 4, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

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.

View to the Staircase From Oval Drawing Room, Door Flanked By Paneled Mirrors

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

This and That

Oval Drawing Room

December 3, 2021 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

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.