Marble House 1892:  Both the design and the furnishing of the lavish house owe much to Alva Erskine Smith, who had married William K. Vanderbilt.  She told the architect Richard Morris Hunt her models and her requirements. The rooms show extremely purposeful and correct emulation of predominately French Baroque and Rococo models that Alva knew from her pre-marriage life in France.  The House itself is based on the Petit Trianon at Versailles.  She bought paintings showing portraits of French royalty.  In 1914 she built a Chinese Teahouse overlooking the ocean as the final touch to the estate.

 Marble House 1892, architect Richard Morris Hunt, entrance.

 Marble House 1892, architect Richard Morris Hunt, rear, facing ocean, modeled after the Petit Trianon at Versailles, France, built 1762-68.

 Marble House 1892, architect Richard Morris Hunt, detail of French-inspired lighting fixture at entrance.

 Marble House 1892, architect Richard Morris Hunt, detail of French-inspired stone garden ornament as vase of flowers, rear of house.

 Portrait of Louis XV, by Jean-Baptiste van Loo, 1735, in original frame with the inscription “DONNE PAR LE ROY.”  Purchased by Alva Erskine Smith Vanderbilt for the dining room of Marble House. Photograph by David Bohl by courtesy of the Preservation Society of Newport County.

Chinese Teahouse added 1912-14. Set on the Cliff Walk facing the Atlantic Ocean.

 Chinese Teahouse added 1912-14.  Construction based on models researched by the architects Richard and Joseph Hunt on a trip to southern China.

 Chinese Teahouse added 1912-14. Interior. Ambassador Chai Zemin of the People’s Republic of China officiated at the reopening after the restoration in 1982.

 Chinese Teahouse added 1912-14. View past the mahogany-framed glass doors to the Marble House.