First Floor
- Entrance Foyer
- Gentlemen’s Reception Room
- Ladies’ Reception Room
- Great Hall (50 ft x 50 ft (15 m) x 50 ft) – Over each of the six doors which lead from the Great Hall are limestone figure groups celebrating humanity's progress in art, science, and industry: Galileo, representing science; Dante, representing literature; Apollo, representing the arts; Mercury, representing speed and commerce; Richard Morris Hunt, representing architecture; and Karl Bitter, representing sculpture.
- Main Staircase (though visitors may not use it).
- Arcade -
- Library - Clearly themed for its use, the library is made from coffered ceilings painted with a dolphin, symbolic of the sea and hospitality, supported by Circassian Walnut paneling impressed with gold leaf in the form of a leather bound book. Between the ceiling and the gold paneling lies green Spanish leather embossed with gold, which continues into the library from the alcove where the noble inhabitants played cards. Inside the central library rests two busts; the bronze bust depicts William Henry Vanderbilt, the oldest child of Cornelius II and Alice, who died of typhoid at the age of 21 while attending Yale university. There is now a library at Yale dedicated to William Henry Vanderbilt. The second bust, in marble, is of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. The fireplace, taken from a 16th century French chateau, bears the inscription “I laugh at great wealth, and never miss it; nothing but wisdom matters in the end.”
- Music Room - The host of many a fine relaxing time, the Music room’s open interior was used for recitals and dances. With woodwork and furnishings designed by Richard Van der Boyen and implemented by Jules Allard and Sons, the music room boasts a gilt coffered ceiling lined with silver and gold, as well as an elliptical ceiling molding which bears the inscription in French of song, music, harmony and melody. Around the edge are the names of famous composers. The fireplace is of Campan marble and the tables were designed to match. Mr. Vanderbilt was known to play the violin and Mrs. Vanderbilt the piano, which is a second empire French mahogany ormolu mounted piano.
- Morning Room - This room, a communal lounge facing east to admit the morning sun, was used throughout the day, and is designed by the French company head Jules Allard. Around the room there may be noticed platinum paneling, with muses of the sciences and humanities. All interior woodwork and furnishings were designed and constructed in France, then shipped to America and reassembled.
- Porch
- Lower Loggia
- Billiard Room - This room, taking after the Ancient Romans, was designed by Richard Morris Hunt to establish his competence in stone works. The grand slabs of Cippolino marble from Italy form the walls, while alabaster arches give great contrast. Throughout the room there is an assortment of semi-precious stones, forming mosaics of acorns (the Vanderbilt family symbol for strength and longevity) and billiard balls on the top walls. The Renaissance style mahogany furniture provides another contrast with that of the colored marble, and brings out all features of the room.
- Dining Room - The 2,400 square foot dining room serves as The Breakers most preposterously ostentatious room, where 12 freestanding alabaster Corinthian columns support a colossal carved and gilt cornice. Rich in allegory, this room serves as an exemplar proof of what 19th century technology can do with Roman ideas and 18th century inspiration. Above, the goddess Aurora brings in the dawn on a four horse chariot, and Greek figures pose majestically. A 16th century style table of carve oak serves up to 34. Two baccarat crystal chandeliers light up the room with either gas or electric, and 18, 22 or 24 carat gold gilt adheres to the wall through rabbit skin glue.
- Marriage Chest
- Breakfast Room - The Breakfast room and its modified Louis XV style paneling and furnishings hosted family morning meals and pranks. The furnishings, colors and gilt, although still seemingly extravagant, contrast with the dining room’s prodigal decoration.
- Pantry - A central dumbwaiter serves to bring the food and wine from the kitchen and cellar to the main company, and stores all manner of china and silver. The silver was brought with the family when they traveled, and stored in a steel vault otherwise. An intercom system allows the butler to direct the necessary servants to their needed locations, and each number on the caller corresponds to a number on a room.
- Kitchen - The kitchen, unlike others in the time period, was situated on the first floor away from the main house to prevent the possibility of fires. The well ventilated room supports a 21 foot cast iron stove which heats up as a single element through a coal burning stove. The work table is made of zinc, which served as the stainless steel of the time, and in front of it is a marble mortar used to crush various ingredients. Ice cut from the local ponds kept the side rooms cool where food was stored, and allowed for a colder room to assemble pastries.
Read more about this topic: The Breakers, Layout
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