Newly Restored – the Yellow Chamber at the Moffatt-Ladd House in Portsmouth, NH
The Moffatt-Ladd House, 154 Market St., Portsmouth, is a National Historic Landmark open to the public as a museum since 1912.
PORTSMOUTH—Consider yourself family or intimate friend when you enter the Yellow Chamber of Sarah Catherine Mason Moffatt. This space would have been reserved for those closest to her heart. Here, quiet conversation and pleasant refreshments were shared.
Here, some of life’s most private events occurred – births, deaths and familial care. Today, the exquisite taste of Samuel Moffatt’s young wife has been brought to life thanks to the extensive restoration of her salon. Family inventories and carefully stored artifacts have made possible this accurate interpretation of the room. Here, visitors will see the striking color and design recreated from original wallpaper samples, the rich texture and pattern woven into the gold damask textiles, and the period-specific patterns in the reproduction Persian rugs and furnishings.
Located on the right at the top of the mansion’s grand staircase, the newly restored room introduces visitors to the lifestyle of this 18th century woman and her family. A study of historical documents, original furnishings and collected archives, together with the consultation of experts and professionals in the field of antiquities, have resulted in an accurate representation of Sarah Catherine’s Yellow Chamber.
Aspects of authenticity:
Paint: With documentation garnered from research, the project began with a paint analysis that determined the current color was close to the original. New paint was then mixed and applied using 18th century methods assuring that visitors will see the same rich finish that delighted Mrs. Moffatt’s guests.
Textiles: The exquisite taste of Sarah Catherine was revealed in a preserved sample of the room’s original textiles. Now reproduced, visitors will appreciate the period-specific handsewn bed covering and hangings, window treatments, squabs and upholstery.
Wallpaper and flooring: A sample of original wallpaper was used as a pattern for the block and stencil print reproduction. Now, the room’s walls accurately display its 18th century design, including copies of the original frieze of hunting scenes, attributed to the artist James Seymour, 1702-1752.
Early 18th century floors were unfinished, and removing layers of paint that had been applied over the ensuing years, has exposed the beautiful grain in the decades-old floorboards.
True to the inventories, floor coverings were created. To assure accurate 18th century design, the Ushak pattern and colors in the original Persian rug of New Hampshire Royal Governor Benning Wentworth were used.
Furnishings: Meticulous in portraying Sarah Catherine’s tastes and lifestyle, a reproduction bed was commissioned. Records also showed that a dressing table, mahogany Chippendale chairs and an “easy chair” were part of the room’s furnishings.
Now open for the season: The warmth and design of Mrs. Moffatt’s drawing room will leave guests in awe as guides relate some of her story. Visitors near and far are encouraged to include the Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden in their summer plans! Please visit www.moffattladd.org/events for more information.
DISCLAIMER: The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth is sharing this content on behalf of a member and is not the original creator.
