Learn more about three Corinthian Hall artifacts in need of conservation in our Adopt-an-Artifact program

Three artifacts in the collection of Corinthian Hall grand salon furnishings have been selected by Museum staff as candidates for conservation, supported by the Friends organization. This floor screen is a significant piece in the collection and needs substantial work to preserve its integrity.

We appreciate your interest in this valuable work, and invite you to make a tax-deductible gift to support the conservation of this piece in the Corinthian Hall furnishings collection.

Floor Screen
Made of wood and Aubusson tapestry
1963.159.10

The Aubusson tapestry three-fold floor screen is original to the salon and was purchased new by the Longs in either 1909 or 1910, during their extensive European travels while Corinthian Hall was being built.

It was purchased specifically for use in the grand salon, and was used to divide space in the room between the fireplace and the grand piano. The use of authentic, handmade Aubusson tapestry in salon furniture pieces of that era was considered the style of royalty.

Physical description:
The striking wood-framed screen with three folding panels is covered with an authentic Aubusson tapestry, woven of colored wools with designs of floral arrangements. It was donated to the Museum in 1963 by Sallie America Ellis, daughter of Robert and Ella Long. Sallie gave several pieces to the museum over the years until her death.

Condition:
At the time of its donation, the screen was structurally unstable and partially broken. The instability of the piece has caused more failure, and the piece needs extensive structural and decorative repair throughout the tapestry panels.

Recommended treatment:
Structural support
Stabilization of materials
Restoration of decorative tapestry
Wood repair and refinishing
Cleaning

About the Corinthian Hall Furniture Collection
The Robert A. Long family home at Corinthian Hall was completed in 1910, and in its day, was the grandest mansion in Kansas City. Long, a lumber entrepreneur, civic leader and philanthropist, took his family on an extensive European excursion in search of furnishings and accessories for their Kansas City home, while it was under construction. Architect Henry Hoit designed the 70-room stone mansion in Beaux-Arts style with a classic Greco-Roman influence.

At Hoit’s suggestion, Long awarded the contract for all interior finishing of Corinthian Hall – including furnishings for the period-style rooms – to Baumgarten and Company of New York, which counted the Breakers and Shadow Lawn among its clients. The artisans at Baumgarten designed and built most of the period-style furniture for Corinthian Hall, because Long disliked real antiques. Martha Ellis Leland said that her grandfather thought it was ridiculous to buy something old and “full of worm holes” and what he considered “second hand,” when finely crafted copies of antiques in good, solid wood served the same purpose.

Corinthian Hall Collection courtesy of the Kansas City Museum and Union Station Kansas City.