Today we set out to visit the Hillwood Estate and museum -- former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post.. She was born in 1887 and was the only child of C.W. Post, founder of Postum Cereal Company which became Post Cereals. ( think Grape-nuts and Post Toasties and Raisin Bran). After the death of both her parents, at the age of 27, she became one of the wealthiest women in America. Her second husband was E.F. Hutton and their only daughter is Dina Merrill, the actress. While married to Hutton, the Postum company was transformed into the General Foods Corporation. She divorced her second husband and married US Ambassador Joseph E. Davies who was posted to Russia for 18 months. During this time frame, Marjorie discovered a life long passion for collecting Russian Imperial art. While posted in Russia as the wife of the US Ambassador, she began the nucleus of her Russian collection. She also collected many fabulous treasures from France.. She divorced her third husband after 20 years and purchased Hillwood Estate in 1955 -- a 25 acre estate that became her home and a future museum for her extensive collection of French and Russian art.. At her death in 1973, her estate was opened to the public per her wishes.
There are fabulous treasures in each room of the estate, including two of the 13 Faberge Eggs that exist in the US. (Photos below). She collected fantastic porcelains, including four 30 piece dessert services that belonged to Catherine The Great. The table in her dining room was originally designed in 1927 for her dining room at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach. It was requested in her will that the table with 6 leaves ( takes 6 people to Insert sent a leaf in the table since they each weigh about 400 lbs) be returned to Hillwood after her death. The table seats more than 30 people with all the leaves in it. It has a mosaic top of more then 11 different stones.
After our tour of the house and lunch, we went for a tour of Tudor Place -- built by George Washington's , step-granddaughter , Martha Custis. There was a wonderful ice cream social at Tudor Place that we all enjoyed and Gaby made a Colonial Tri Corner Hat. The house itself is not so impressive. Tomorrow we visit Mount Vernon...--after the July 4th parade. We're hoping for a semi-dry day!! HAPPY 4th!!
Faberge Egg
The other Faberge Egg.
Clock by Faberge.
Needle point boat shoes
Her maid brought down each week's outfits from storage on the third floor to hang in her closet.
Her emerald necklace designed by Cartier.
Portrait of Catherine the Great that Catherine commissioned as a gift.
Magnificent inlaid wooden chest .
Wooden Floor
The movie theater she added to the house where guests were treated to first run movies after dinner.
Chair that belonged to Marie Antoinette that was re-covered in the 1900's.
Ice cream at Tudor Place
Working on her Tri Corner Hat!
Ta Da!
Early morning walk with mom and Gran!
Scaffolding around the Washington Monument.
Gaby presents me with a Christmas ornament that is a replica of the Faberge Egg in the Post collection at Hillwood.
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