ROMANCE IN MARBLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13485, 11 May 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

ROMANCE IN MARBLE.

MOST MAGNIFICENT TOWN HOUSE IN EUKOPE. PARK LANE , PALACE. Byzantium's splendours and the gorgeousness and majesty of the ancient palaces of the Sultans luve a, worthy successor here and now in the very heart of fashionable London (says a recent issue of the London Chronicle). '; The.;' somewhat old-fashioned exterior of. Sir Ernest Cassel's new residence, Brook House, now just cleared of an intricate network of scaffolding, gives little idea of: the work within and the remarkable architectural undertaking that is transforming the mansion into the most magnificent town house in London, Paris, or New" York. Its splendour challenges comparison with " Arabian Nights" palaces, and Eastern romance is rivalled by present-day actuality in the world-quest • for material of service and adornment. All corners of the earth have been ransacked to produce the various materials for the fulfilment of the owner's hopes and the architect's refined scheme. "■ . ' 1 It is now nearly two years since Sir Ernest Cassel bought Brook; House from Lord Tweedmouth. Since then he has secured the adjoining house to give width, for the new rooms and staircase and extra frontage in Brook-street. The whole building has now been raised by the addition of a top storey with a central dome. It has taken over twelve months to quarry the 800 tons of statuary marble of which the main staircase is composed. ■ EEOM MICHAEL ANGELO'S QUABBY. This marble is from the famous quarry at Sarravezza, once the property of the Popes Julius 11. and Leo X., of the Medici family. Michael Angelo, sent from , the Vatican in 1490 to prospect, was amazed at the beauty of the material, and it lis said his report to the Pope depreciated its quality so that he might obtain a monopoly of the mine for his own sculptures. * From that date, all Angelo's masterpieces were chiselled from these Tuscany marbles. Not only is the actual stairway in Brook House of this marble, but the floors and walls are panelled with the polished stone. Corinthian columns, 17ft in height, hewn out of the solid block, give support to the upper floors and the great gallery underneath the immense dome. Just a vein of colour is visible in these pillars, and the greatest difficulty has-been experienced; in getting such immense pieces without a flaw. For months the workmen were hewing and cutting, and' "many hundreds of tons of the precious material were -unearthed before perfect slabs of the requisite length, equal in tone and a match in all respects, were obtained. .Throughout the i ground floor ; the severely classic character is maintained, but the scheme is 'adapted; to modern requirements, and is massive; dignified, and refined.

1 - THE QUEST OF THE BLUE • MINE." The most severely, classic effort of the architects, Messrs. White, Allora, and Co., is seen in the outer entrance hall, pilastered with unique: blue marble, a knowledge of which had lapsed for many years. Credit for the re-discovery of this marble belongs entirely to the Princess of Wales, whose' attention was drawn to some fragments of the blue stone, presented to her at the time of her voyage with the Prince to Canada. • > . When Marlborough- House :. was ;' undergoing .'.'overhauling.' and improvements,, the Princess : showed'; her specimens 'to - Mr. Allom, expressing great enthusiasm as to their beauty of colour, and,her desire to have > the quarry found, and the beautiful blue soladite'■; made use of. Mr. AUom. set out to prospect for the blue marble, and with the able I help of the ; Geological Survey Department of :. Canada ; discovered the mine in the centre of Ontario; , ' With a few friends Mr. Allom promptly bought the v mine outright,^.and the .blue stone now" beautifies many' 1 of the Princess of Wales' 1 raoins..- r . The peculiar' hardness of the mineral renders the work of cutting most difficult, and; much time and ingenuity,:* both here ' and .on the' Continent, have been expended, but at last the difficult process of cutting and moulding appears to be solved. :"'?" ■■■ .". ■: ■ •;'-../■• ' ■- < At Brook House the same blue Canadian marble mixed with pavonazzo will adorn the sumptuous outer entrance hall when it is completed. *) Hundreds of men are now working to - get the necessary quantity of sixty tons cut arid moulded; to form the cornices; and pilasters of the apartment. ; The main entrance of Sir Ernest Cassel's house from Brook-street will remain much as it was, but, standing within the severe blue marble; vestibule, an. extraordinary vista of about 200 ft is obtained, giving an uninterrupted view ; of the marble staircase arid corridor: extending the full length of the house to the new dining-room. ? By means if immense doors this corridor may be : closed off to form a superb octagonal morning-room, communicating with the dining hall. To the Park; Lane side of . the mansion a' loggia will open on to the garden, and a colonnade of stone columns will be introduced to emphasise the classic order observed .in the dining-room, marble staircase, and entrance., P.OMAI." DIMNG-HOOM. There is no'Bornsan dining-room in London, nor in England, when all is said, and it is a question if in the Eternal City itself there is a\. marble dining -room of such majestic dimensions as that in course of construction for Sir Ernest Cassel. .'The rotunda -like addition, to the former structure, noticeable from the Park Lane side, is in reality a long room with rounded ends, and the arched ceiling is' nearly 30ft high. One hundred people will dine there with perfect ease, and while, at table they will gaze in admiration at their refined surroundings. There are columns, ; capitals, and arches gracefully carved, and plaques representing scenes from Roman mythology will surmount the doorways. Spanish art will also be represented by Sir Ernest's celebrated! Velasquez portraits, while superb, pictures by Reynolds, Hoppner, Romney, Raeburn, and other artists included in Sir Ernest Cassel's art collection will adorn the walls. .

Unlike the palaces of Imperial Rome, in Sir Ernest Cassel's marble mansion comforts and luxuries undreamt of in the days of the Caesars will be found. A whole installation, in marble and silver, of Turkish baths of the most approved and complete modern; ideas will .occupy a portion of the mezzanine floor. The kitchens are to be models of light, cleanliness, and airiness, walled/ and floored ; with spotless marble and perfectly equipped, and the many bathrooms, which are fitted on every floor of the house, are of the same marble. The basement is a veritable labyrinth of kitchens, wine cellars, strong-rooms, vegetable rooms, offices, with a frigidarium for fruit and flowers. There are pastry kitchens, grilling, roasting, and boiling ovens of a dozen varieties. Lifts* are numerous, and there is a special hydraulic hoist for guests' luggage. Altogether, it is the most perfectly appointed mansion in Europe or America, neither overdone nor over-elabor-ate in its luxury and beauty of design and workmanship. ,