To continue your tour, please return to the Main Hall and use the doorway on the opposite side of the room to enter the Dining Room.
As you take in this space, what are your first impressions? Does this strike you as the formal dining room of a grand country estate? Perhaps because the Lucknow Estate was a retreat rather than a showpiece, the Plants opted for a small and intimate dining space.
Tom and Olive Plant primarily hosted only close friends and family at Lucknow. Tom’s niece, Amy, often came to stay, as did his brother, William. In fact, near the end of his life, William Plant reportedly lived here at Lucknow. Olive’s brothers and nephews – with their ties to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire – likewise visited this estate from time to time.
Whether hosting friends and family, or enjoying an informal buffet on their own, the Plants dined in this room, with its lovely furniture specifically designed for an octagonal space. The dining table had interchangeable tops – a small, octagonal top and two larger, round tops – one of which could comfortably seat a party of eight.
The company that made the furniture, Irving & Casson, was founded in 1874, later merging with the A.H. Davenport Company. At first, they made wooden fireplace mantels and decorative panels. Later, they expanded into furniture. The company was known for its traditional designs, careful craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and hand-carved details. Irving & Casson had showrooms in Boston and New York. The New York location was close to an apartment the Plants kept in the 1910s and was likely where the Plants made their purchases.
As you look back at the fireplace, notice the lovely, crystalline surround tiles. On the mantel, notice the Hercules Clock, manufactured by the Edward F. Caldwell Company – the same company that provided Lucknow’s light fixtures. The museum purchased this clock to stand in for an identical clock seen in historic photos that was no longer in the Castle’s collection. And hanging above the mantel, you will find our giclee reproduction of a portrait of Sunshine – Tom Plant’s favorite horse –painted by Alexander Pope, Jr.
Before you leave, don’t forget to look up. This molded plaster ceiling featuring wisteria vines is a marvel. At over a century old, this impressive feature required only minimal reconstruction and stabilization, though we did have to remove seven layers of modern paint to reveal the simple, elegant design as it appeared during the Plant years.
