Frederick Ayer Mansion
Encyclopedia
The Frederick Ayer Mansion is a National Historic Landmark on 395 Commonwealth Avenue
in Boston, Massachusetts.
The mansion was the home of Frederick Ayer
, owner of the American Woolen Company
, and features well preserved design work by Louis Comfort Tiffany
. The house was added to the National Historic Register in 2005.
in a partnership with Alfred J. Manning. It is one of three surviving examples of Tiffany designed interiors. The other two sites are the Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain House
) in Hartford, Connecticut (1881), and the Ferry House
in Seattle, Washington (1903–1906). What makes the Ayer Mansion so unusual is that Tiffany also designed an exterior mosaic design. The only other building to have included this feature by Tiffany was his private residence, Laurelton Hall. Unfortunately, Laurelton Hall was destroyed in a fire in the 1950s. Individual components from Laurelton Hall survive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City but the building’s demise results in the Ayer Mansion being the single surviving exterior and interior design still intact.http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/samples/ma/Frederick%20Ayer%20Mansion.pdf The mansion was sold by the family after Fredrick’s death in 1918. For a short time, it was converted to offices and leased to several agencies. The Trimount Foundation and Bayridge Residence and Cultural Center purchased the buildings in 1964. To this day the Ayer Mansion remains in their care.
Currently, efforts are being made to restore the exterior of the building. The project will include repairing 4 out of the 7 mosaics on the exterior balcony which have been damaged or lost due to water infiltration; recreation of the two missing stained glass screen on the first floor; restoration of the remaining window on the first floor; and recreation of the missing stain glass screen along the top floor.
Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Commonwealth Avenue is a major street in the cities of Boston and Newton, Massachusetts. It begins at the western edge of the Public Garden, and continues west through the neighborhoods of the Back Bay, Kenmore Square, Allston, Brighton and Chestnut Hill...
in Boston, Massachusetts.
The mansion was the home of Frederick Ayer
Frederick Ayer
Frederick Ayer was an American businessman and the younger brother of patent medicine tycoon Dr. James Cook Ayer. He graduated from The Hill School. In addition to his involvement in the patent medicine business, he is better known for his work in the textile industry...
, owner of the American Woolen Company
American Woolen Company
The American Woolen Company was established in 1899 under the leadership of William M. Wood and his father-in-law Frederick Ayer through the consolidation of eight financially troubled New England woolen mills. At the company's height in the 1920s, it owned and operated 60 woolen mills across New...
, and features well preserved design work by Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
. The house was added to the National Historic Register in 2005.
Historical significance
The Ayer Mansion was built in 1900, designed by Louis Comfort TiffanyLouis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
in a partnership with Alfred J. Manning. It is one of three surviving examples of Tiffany designed interiors. The other two sites are the Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain House
Mark Twain House
The Mark Twain House and Museum was the home of Mark Twain from 1874 to 1891 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Before 1874, Twain had lived in Hannibal, Missouri. The architectural style of the 19-room house is Victorian Gothic...
) in Hartford, Connecticut (1881), and the Ferry House
Pierre P. Ferry House
The Pierre P. Ferry House is an historic home in Seattle, Washington.-History:The American Craftsman home was designed by Seattle architect John Graham. The art glass windows in the main hall with the elaborate peacock were designed by Tiffany Studios. Orlando Giannini of the Chicago firm...
in Seattle, Washington (1903–1906). What makes the Ayer Mansion so unusual is that Tiffany also designed an exterior mosaic design. The only other building to have included this feature by Tiffany was his private residence, Laurelton Hall. Unfortunately, Laurelton Hall was destroyed in a fire in the 1950s. Individual components from Laurelton Hall survive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City but the building’s demise results in the Ayer Mansion being the single surviving exterior and interior design still intact.http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/samples/ma/Frederick%20Ayer%20Mansion.pdf The mansion was sold by the family after Fredrick’s death in 1918. For a short time, it was converted to offices and leased to several agencies. The Trimount Foundation and Bayridge Residence and Cultural Center purchased the buildings in 1964. To this day the Ayer Mansion remains in their care.
Preservation
Since its purchase by the Trimount and Bayridge Residence and Cultural Center, several renovations have been done to the buildings. The first renovation occurred in 1971-72 when the two buildings were joined together. In 1999, Jean Carroon Architects conducted an assessment of the building’s preservation needs as well as detailed proposal on how to achieve it. The first of the projects outlined was the restoration of a 24 foot lay light which had been concealed for fifty years. Also renovated was the front living room in 2000. The drop ceiling installed when the building was converted into offices was removed to reveal the original floral-patterned ceiling and the parquet floor was also restored. The mosaic on the interior hall was restored in 2002.Currently, efforts are being made to restore the exterior of the building. The project will include repairing 4 out of the 7 mosaics on the exterior balcony which have been damaged or lost due to water infiltration; recreation of the two missing stained glass screen on the first floor; restoration of the remaining window on the first floor; and recreation of the missing stain glass screen along the top floor.