Photograph: "Hall at Marina"
1889 – 1890 (Date manufactured/created)
Large photograph of the entrance hall and staircase in P. T. and Nancy Fish Barnum's home Marina, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The photograph is mounted on heavy paperboard, and is part of a set showing several interior and exterior views of Marina soon after it was built. The home was designed in the Queen Anne style by architects Longstaff and Hurd of Bridgeport. It was built between 1888 and 1889, and was located right next to the Barnums' 1869 mansion Waldemere in the area of Seaside Park, facing Long Island Sound. When Marina was completed, Waldemere was dismantled. The photographs were taken by Farini Photographs, likely between 1889-1890.
The photograph shows the elaborately decorated entrance hall, featuring a coffered ceiling and wood paneling, reminiscent of English interiors from past centuries, and a staircase with carved newell posts, spiral-turned spindles, and curved lower steps. On the left side of the hall is a grand fireplace with a carved mantelpiece on which are bronze statues of birds, a knight in armor, and a lion. Two chairs are positioned in front of the fireplace. To the right are stairs that lead to a landing where a large stained glass window is partially in view; its design features a draped female figure. At the bottom of the stairs, to the right, is a highly decorated tall case clock and a tall Japanese vase; the latter is in the Barnum Museum's holdings and can be seen in another photograph, 1970.006.003 C.
The back of the mounting board is black except for an imprint in gold that identifies the photography studio as "Farini Photographs. 61 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Conn." An unfortunate added element is the label covering a portion of the photographer's name, "Photo #5 Property of Barnum Museum.""
This photograph came in a large paper envelope with a stamped area at the top for recording the number of the photograph, its name (title) and remarks. This photograph is noted as No. 6 and is titled "Hall of 'Marina.'"
Nancy Fish Barnum sent these images to the Joshua Cunliffe family, friends of hers who lived in England. The photographs transferred into the possession of another at some point, and were then obtained by an antiques dealer in Blackford Bridge, Bury, Lancashire, England. The photographs came to the attention of Barnum Museum curator Kenneth B. Holmes, who purchased them on behalf of the museum while in England for Christmas vacation in December 1970. An article about the initial discovery of the photographs were published in the Bridgeport Sunday Post on January 24, 1971.
The photograph shows the elaborately decorated entrance hall, featuring a coffered ceiling and wood paneling, reminiscent of English interiors from past centuries, and a staircase with carved newell posts, spiral-turned spindles, and curved lower steps. On the left side of the hall is a grand fireplace with a carved mantelpiece on which are bronze statues of birds, a knight in armor, and a lion. Two chairs are positioned in front of the fireplace. To the right are stairs that lead to a landing where a large stained glass window is partially in view; its design features a draped female figure. At the bottom of the stairs, to the right, is a highly decorated tall case clock and a tall Japanese vase; the latter is in the Barnum Museum's holdings and can be seen in another photograph, 1970.006.003 C.
The back of the mounting board is black except for an imprint in gold that identifies the photography studio as "Farini Photographs. 61 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Conn." An unfortunate added element is the label covering a portion of the photographer's name, "Photo #5 Property of Barnum Museum.""
This photograph came in a large paper envelope with a stamped area at the top for recording the number of the photograph, its name (title) and remarks. This photograph is noted as No. 6 and is titled "Hall of 'Marina.'"
Nancy Fish Barnum sent these images to the Joshua Cunliffe family, friends of hers who lived in England. The photographs transferred into the possession of another at some point, and were then obtained by an antiques dealer in Blackford Bridge, Bury, Lancashire, England. The photographs came to the attention of Barnum Museum curator Kenneth B. Holmes, who purchased them on behalf of the museum while in England for Christmas vacation in December 1970. An article about the initial discovery of the photographs were published in the Bridgeport Sunday Post on January 24, 1971.
1970.006.003 KL