Historic Furnishings

Historical furnishing can be original or reproductive furniture, floor coverings, wall coverings, window treatments, clothing, uniforms, shop items, glass, ceramics, books and accessory items used the represent the appearance of an area to a date or era specified by a site’s interpretive plan. Historic furnishings are used to:

• Preserve original objects in their original settings
• Recreate the scene of a historical event
• Create a period setting for original objects
• Create a period setting for visitors to use

Charles Deering was an avid collector of art and fine furnishings. His collection spanned the history of art and represented artists both known and unknown from all over Europe, Asia and the United States. His art collection included paintings and sculpture from the Italian Renaissance, Dutch Masters, Spanish Modernism, French Impressionism and American Masters. While Charles’ passion for contemporary art was well documented, he maintained a large collection of antique and high-end furnishings in vogue with the upper class and aristocracy during the turn of the century. Photographic documentation of the interior of Maricel (Charles Deering’s estate in Sitges Spain) reveals that Charles was not concerned with adhering to any particular style or fashion, but rather mixed and matched his collection.