ne
Antiques
historic estate
Eclectic
Collection
Early 20th-century interior
designer Henry Davis Sleeper
amassed a treasure trove of
decorative arts for his 40-room
manse in Gloucester.
By Meg Quinn
Pleasures Past
The China Trade Room
features wallpaper
handpainted in China.
62 nshoremag.com March 2014
NB KJ NS Mar14 Fletcher.indd 62
the north shore is home to many
architectural masterpieces, and Beauport
in Gloucester is one of the area's grandest
estates.
Open to the public May through October and maintained by Historic New England, Beauport is the former home of one
of America's first interior designers, Henry
Davis Sleeper. Also known as the SleeperMcCann house, Beauport is located on
Eastern Point and boasts over 40 rooms
and beautifully manicured grounds.
Although it features a stunning
exterior, it is what's inside Beauport that
counts, according to Stephen Fletcher,
renowned antiquarian and executive
vice president and chief auctioneer at
Skinner, Inc., in Marlborough.
"Henry Davis Sleeper had an ability to
create a unique environment in his home,
which at the time was cutting edge," says
Fletcher. "He has combined American
antiques, European antiques, Chinese exports, marine art, folk art—you name it—
it's there. He has very creatively combined
objects that others would not know what
to do with. It's an approach to interior
design that even today can be looked at
and admired," he says.
Sleeper decorated the 1907 English
country-style house and enlarged it to 40
rooms, but it is not voluminous. "He could
be considered the first celebrity interior
designer," continues Fletcher. "He knew
how to combine American furniture and
decorative arts with other things and
photographs by eric roth
1/15/14 2:56 PM
