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.
Up Through the Staircase
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.
Looking Across a Tread of the Staircase
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.
Door Under Staircase From Outside
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.
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.
Window Behind the Cantilevered Staircase
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.
Window From Outside
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.
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.
Oval Drawing Room Rounded Mirrors
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.
Oval Drawing Room Rounded Mirrors, Open door that leads to hallway
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.
Another room of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum that is a show off, including this gold decorated tea set.
White – Gold 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.
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.
Oval Drawing Room Cornice Detail
A wider view shows the rounding of the corner and the top corner framing of the panel mirrors.
Oval Drawing Room Cornice Detail
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.
Oval Drawing Room From Hallway
This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.
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.
Set for Tea in the Oval Drawing Room
The tea set has plenty of its own bling, with opulent decoration.
Tea Table
Panel mirrors and cornice gilding helped brighten the room for after dinner parties, reflecting candle light.
Tea Table Reflected in Mirror Wall
This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.
