Walter Mathis and now the National Trust historic operate the site, the Villa Finale in the San Antonio King William Historic. For local history and artifacts of European art and culture, is the house worth an afternoon tour.
With a lot of oral history, facts are scarce.
The land, located on Villa Finale was part of an original Spanish land grant for pioneering the Canary Islands. In the not too distant history, the land has been reclaimed agricultural land to The Alamo. The Missionde Bexar. Yes, the Alamo.
The road runs a few blocks east of Villa Finale, is the Alamo South. He runs in front of The Alamo, then follows a path that runs from north to south, then east to west, then back north-south. The local joke is that the cattle trails were used to select roads. In this case, however, it was a watercourse. The strange twists of the local topography has dictated the water sources, both natural and artificial.
Walter Mathis would retrace part of his family lineagethe pioneers of the Canary Islands which has been shown that Villa was the final destiny.
Standing in front of the house is seen, is the Italian style in mid-1850. The stylized porch and tower were added only in the decade between 1895 and 1905.
The fun part for me, I heard two different employees of the editors claim in 1863 and 1873 was built, and the material has been accepted from the date of 1873, built by an Englishman named Norton. It was four-square, with only four rooms of aUnfinished fireplace in every room, the limestone quarry with a typical surface. Mr. Norton had intact the front door of the United Kingdom, a great carved door frame and door, has a spectacular view. In an environment that has been widely - the name of King William - German merchant class, was the holdout solo English.
Norton has lost their home to foreclosure, and is changed twice more, so the last family left in 1890, not without a fight.
During this time the backPart of the house included a large kitchen and cellar.
And we have strengthened even more.
There are two magnificent lions flank the driveway. Walter Mathis was a lion, but no, it was the Victorian attitude, along with two ceremonial cannons. Mr. Mathis told stories about the early days, when the area was rough, he would wake up to find his guns dragged across the courtyard, past to rest before lifting the fence, as they really were too heavy.
Standing inBackyard to go on the front, it is almost impossible to imagine that it is a seedy neighborhood, or "bad". One of my clients has grown, perhaps two miles to the south, as he grew, he warned that it was "off the hook, the residence of King William!" Looking for an elegant manor houses and stately trees, it's hard to believe.
San Antonio has two primary industries, military and hospitality. Changed at the end of World War II, the name of the neighborhood, was the King William was not toopopular. Troops returning home were housed in large houses often, and the Villa itself was cut in the final eight apartments.
In 1960 the area was in a pitiful state. In the pause that followed, facts, sketched, but Villa Finale was a brothel, a casino illegal, an illegal immigrant and have been a brothel. Walter Mathis denied the brothel until his death, but I got a sweet old lady from the neighborhood. She was instructed never to walk on the side ofStreet - his parents were afraid that it would be put into service.
In the mid-sixties, Mr. Mathis said his home was at that moment in the path of the first project of the city highways, 281 he moved his art and the emerging architecture collection in storage and began the search for a new home. The 'Villa Finale' name was chosen because he wanted to be his final resting place. It 'was.
He bought the house in 1967, immediately after renovations, but has lived in a hotel in the center untilpartially through the project.
The "Fire & Casualty" Insurance companies often have plats of land. In one from 1894, Villa had the final porch and a tower, while the two were evident in the platform 1905. The porch and tower were added in the meantime have been included, but not enough data collection to be more precise. Insurance companies have the plats so there was a map to the penetration of the volunteer fire department in case of fire.
Under the porch is the entrance was amazed at Norton, thenGuests are instructed to help even shoes for slippers, durable protection to keep and attract what Walter Mathis built. The porch ceiling is painted sky blue, and while it is folklore patent, is the reason for keeping mosquitoes away. Presumably.
The entrance hall and the entrance is marked by an extraordinary amount of art. It was his wish that everything in the left, where it will be placed. There are more than 12,000 items in the collection. For the last years of his life, a NationalHe has acted as a curator personal confidant historical and accurately recorded, most of the stories associated with the various collections.
The December 8, 1941, Randolph went to Walter Mathis military base and signed as a pilot. He continued to fly (presumably) 96-mission in occupied Europe WW2 - facts and myths.
One of the most famous collections is the Napoleon Collection. Entering the room, then take the first door on the right, careful not to touch, under the tower,is the beginning of the collection.
It is worth mentioning that Mr. Mathis was a house full of music. To this end, in the middle of the room under the tower, there, forgive me my bad German, "Bechstein Weltz," piano playing.
"As a piano?"
Yes and no. It 'seems a German car wings, has mechanical inner workings and ran - running - an air compressor that Mr. Mathis in the basement.
I was told that the piano is still running,Think of it like a piano steam. The difference is that a great composer and pianist, and sat with a performance of a roll of paper, and that was played. Cabinet, far left, he left the stage, had to scroll in the corner and rolls for the piano. IPod century. The paper rolls were the mp3.
When asked what single item was, he would grab if the house was on fire, Walter Mathis most proud of his "real" death mask of Napoleon. "One of the six" is the partyline.
Apparently there is a History Channel special craft Napoleon's death masks. Highlight some attention. It seems that it could be much more than a half dozen. It is worth remembering that this is one of the few original, probably less than a dozen, as it was - with original curators of the museum is a difficult task.
Napoleon was a popular, and to this end, the Final Villa is now part of the Franco-Bexar because there is more here than Napoleon memorabiliaMost of the museums. As a military man, admired Napoleon's tactics Walter Mathis.
The cabinets, tables, even the furniture, most if not all, Empire Revival. French, from about 1840. The flavor "Egyptian" is woven into the art, after all, had "conquered" Napoleon of Egypt and some of the pan-Arab world.
Because I was trained, when the house was restored, I got a couple of things to look out of the wall, like a ceremonial sword and sheath assembly that depends on a high, like a ChristmasTree Star, a series of lithographs by Napoleon.
"The panic in her eyes when she pulled one of the curator;. It 'really held together with string"
The windows to prevent UV coating to fade. New paint, and everything was clean and replaced in its original time, in command, and legacy.
Most of the furnishings in the rooms before it was restored by Mathis, with one exception, there is a green ottoman / stool, which is located in the original material from1840. Note the large mirror above the mantle. The next room, several collections of Napoleon, mirror, strange things military cloak, a collection of dog figurines, various tokens, souvenirs, and my favorite, a pair of carved ivory triptychs, which take place and show wins Napoleon and his wife, showing her biggest hit, the marriage of Napoleon.
"I hope that the humor there," I add.
Back in the hall, along a wall, there are two photos from the "Pasta" byItalian Art, an exhibition clearly a medieval square of San Marco in Venice. I called the school "pasta" because I could never remember the name of the group. In these two paintings, each one seems to be hundreds, but each figure is busy doing something.
Divided between the images is a "cranberry glass" Well, looks like an hourglass, but with hard water in San Antonio, it's all caked up The site is waiting for a grant received for this piece. He still has water in it,and reportedly worked until his death.
Turn around, big painting on the wall "Lazarus and the money changers" biblical history. The painting has spent most of the year in Austin, always preserves. It means an expert in Austin spent months cleaning the proverbial big picture with a Q-Tip and jewelers loupe. First, it was once again, I have two images, a monkey and a cat, and were not visible before maintenance.
There are six or seven bronze sculptures, the first of intHall, too. There are actually four of them, "Barrie", a famous French "animalieé", excuse my bad French spelling of doing this from memory. From where I am, I have two bronzes at hand. The current Barrie sees the horse as a real horse, while next to her looks, is idealized as a horse. Back to the side of the fountain are two candelabra, with gold-looking deer wrapped around the central column. Most of Barrie. Unusual in that it has only a few candles, and evenfewer wild animals such as deer.
The path is a rough night, now back in the door to the front office of Napoleon, is the library.
The wall is lined with books, and from eye level, the books are fantasy, often leather-bound editions of classic beauty. Books that have been collected for the eyes as much as the content. But by six feet, and the books are history, historical, and some auction house catalogs. To date, the property stillreceive catalogs from various international art houses.
When the house was restored by the trust center, instead of drawing all the books from the shelves, then they fight, karts out there and bring them back and re-shelves the books were left. Reduced risk of damage.
The chandelier has been saved from the Estate Mary Bonner, and the ceiling had to be reinforced to support the monster by a lamp. I was there when the unit was up torewound and brought up to code, the electrician, took three big men in drag this chandelier in its place. It weighed over 300 pounds.
In one corner of the library, there is another series of sculptures Barrie, is flanked by a different group of lions of the fireplace, and in one corner, I wonder what is holy?
San Antonio, TX? This is Anthony. This is one meter high statue, which was saved from a church in Mexico, and Mathis turned it into a lamp. AlwaysConservationists is the statue at the base, but the lamp does not actually touch the figure. Above the door, what in the next room, dining room, there are a collection of Orthodox saints, most complete with silver trim. I can not say, but I do not remember if they are Russian Orthodox, Orthodox, or greek-orthodox. One of them. They all look about the same for me. The tape was covered to protect the symbols of constant contact, some of this beliefFaith.
The floor of the library has the unique Persian carpets that I have ever seen. While there is no fundamental reason for the blue sky, the language of the upper edge of the carpet is Farsi (Persian), and the images never show Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden of Eden.
Mr. Mathis was quite fond of religious art, but it was not affiliated with any church until after his episcopal ordination demolished a building, he wanted to save. Connected to a church parking lot. He never came back.
The dining roomRoom has some important collections. There is a large amount of silver, standing in the polls two wooden seats, and three separate boxes full. This is a stand-up display, which has a number of cow-cream. My name is Kramer, Kramer cow, I like. All silver.
To his mother's side, was related to the Bell family, the dynasty of silver in San Antonio. On a shelf in the dining room has a favorite piece, which is a shell shaped like a silver coin with a small model of aSailing vessel, at its peak. This is a gravy boat.
The art hanging at one end of the table "is Sybil and Tarquin," the last of the pagan Roman emperor, and he was a seer.
I like to emphasize that I am not known for my good taste, and if I judge, keep in mind my tastes. Frequently, it should allow me to move.
The attitude of heart is a mismatch of color and culture. And 'burgundy cut glass inlaid semi-precious stones, gold and silver giltwith camels and lions. The story is, this is the very heart of those who drove through the Suez Canal on its opening by Queen Victoria in his ship.
Finally there is the selection of painting on a wall, and a rare Onerdonck Julian Williamson County. In his time, and is still widely regarded as one of the leading impressionist painter of Texas.
The mirror hung in the dining room looks like the same images, as in Napoleon's living room and living room. TheHistory went on me in training, is that the mirrors were gifts. Mr. Mathis was marching through the newly liberated France, and found a house bombed-out, one for the mayor of the city. Mathis was digging around in his pickets, scraping together a few dollars to pay for the mirror, and the mayor has asked Mathis to accept them as a gift for the liberation of their country from German fascist oppression.
The mirror was in Houston a few years later, due to freight. Light onwhat it was, Mr. Mathis has reluctantly accepted the bill, and he was delighted to find her treasures - the French people remembered him. The mirror was left a last-king-silver, maybe just for the telling of the story.
Dining room door in the hallway again, peeking around the corner at the base of the magnificent staircase, and there are Violano Virtuoso. This was from the old Pearl Brewery Bar, the Buckhorn Saloon in 1883. By the sixties, had this rare piece to produceWalter Mathis on the collection. I've seen it work, more than once. It has two violins and a piano player, all in a single case. He plays a waltz. In both cases, interferes with, or musically fun gadgets from the point of view. Wind and hear a waltz.
The scales on the same scale, down the stairs first European, while the upper floor of the North and South America begin collections. The first is the art, during the climb. And 'from South America, a century-old schoolCombination of the Spanish champions and the local color is indicated by the amount of gold used as gold. Some strange interpretations.
Upstairs ...
Around the corner and there is another plan, as part of a display - along the wall - from South America collected more santos and relics in Mexico. Starting in 1910, was far from the Catholic Church as her support in the country published in the Revolution, and the relics are from now until the end. It 'was an intern, the summer beforeVilla opened the finale was all he has done to polish the silver, which on top of the piano top.
From the corridor, there is room left on Periwinkle. Lowe's color, just ask 'Villa Finale periwinkle.
Among the works of art and other objects, there are two notable cases. On one wall there is a collection of over 300 stick-pin. Walter Mathis got his first stick-pin of his grandmother, and began his lifelong obsession with the collections andConservation.
Walter Mathis, especially with its vast collection of objects of worship, was not in church. He was, until his heart torn Episcopal Church, a historic house, an old house, historic home to make way for a parking lot. He resigned and never went to another church. Never regretted, as they say.
There is a wide selection of clocks and timers, but more interesting to me is the collection of shaving mugs. He started when he was fifteen, cupsthe essence of a record of a bygone era. The cups are a couple of custom cabinets designed to reflect the architecture of his parish house were shown. As transient data points are the cups are different from a day away from marketing and beard, like a cup of coffee, because there is a small shelf of a bar of soap and shaving brush.
One of the curators were working on a location in California, spoke about the importance of the historical value of shaving.
This is aIn two stages in the Yellow Room. Works of art, a throne, stairs to the tower, and a series of columns, saved from his home in Monte Vista. It is a strange collection of Staffordshire figures, and it is rather curious, looks like Ben Franklin, but it is labeled: "Geo Washington .."
Staffordshire Pottery was probably made by child labor.
Shaving stand, sewing kit, Walter Mathis lamented the fact that it was a Victorian, born a hundred years too late.
Hidden on a wall, there is aSeptember piece, which is identical to the palace of Maximilian in Mexico City. Another set of connection management - down, Napoleon - the stairs, his illegitimate son -
Man of the House, Walter Mathis, in a seemingly humorous presentation, if he had a golden angel with her plump ass in the middle of the room.
The valences on the windows when the restorer was working, he had heard that the weights were from a plantation in Mississippi. Or near Houston, neverA true story is, but they were removed for the new color, and it turns out that it was a mystery to them again, as they were of different sizes.
The drawing on the wall above is a study of an Edouard Leon Mounet (?) - Best part of it? It 'been a "woman of substance" and that caused the scandal. A 'lady material "should not be a joint work of the artist.
Back in the hall, and there is a painter of the time. One of the most beautiful painting is one of theOnerdonk is the prickly pear in bloom.
There is another picture, on the ground, and is one of the few that are occurring while Onerdonk had to study in New York, mentioned in his letters. There are the usual bluebonnet paintings surprising, too. What he was famous for.
This is a painting named Walter Mathis mother, "From a small friend, little friend in a small and friendly".
Moving around the corner is another bedroom there is a wooden press. Print flower?Probably pushing a blanket because he was a strong relationship with Rockport and Rockport Quilt Guild.
The small bedroom has a double bed of her parents'. It 'came from St. Louis on the Mississippi River, where it was loaded onto another boat and Rockport. According to legend, was one or more of his brothers and / or sisters born in this bed.
It is interesting to note, however, the arrangement of the tree, the nut on the right side, the father on the left side, tracing theGenerations.
In the front room, visible from the bedroom, has a number of Victorian memorabilia, Bristol Glass, a peacock, pearls, handbags, antique Victorian calling cards and paper clips. There is a large carved ivory 'china' ship, and an alleged work Victrola, crank type of turntable.
During the great flood of 2007, this area has suffered water damage. How many people of similar age, Mr. Mathis said his own support does, and he suffered towards the end.Therefore, the water damage.
Back in the hallway, in front of the piano, there is a large buffet with a glass facade. E '"Century Glass", glass souvenirs St. Louis World's Fair, circa 1904. Another gift from Grandma. The collection was enhanced when the McNay (museum) has asked to see him. Walter is a bit ', just to be sure, the museum has an appropriate presentation.
Around the corner is a bathroom - passing a small glass box with a different selection of naughty ClockFaces, light 'PG' by modern standards, but by pre-modern risqué costumes.
Step into the bedroom Walter Mathis. Although he lived in a downtown hotel during the renovation, he eventually moved into the bedroom, the kitchen. The wallpaper was vinyl, faux linen, peeled and water damage. While the National Trust is to restore, a chance encounter has brought in some of the wallpaper to match.
Most of the works of art in his bedroom will be engraver named one of "Currier", asin "Currier and Ives," Ives was a first. Much of the art Currier is Mexican-American War (1842 - marched in Mexico City).
Walter Mathis was proud of his heritage Texas.
Many of the quilts are Christmas themed, such as Walter passed in December, it was his desire to get home, like want to leave.
A house full four thousand square feet of technology is the widespread assumption that inherited wealth. His family lost everything in the GreatDepression, and Walter Mathis has done for its own account. He never married, but he was busy, at least twice, which could be a part of it, but most of it was, was one of the youngest members of the New York Stock Exchange, after the war, and as an investment banker , his greatest victory was to bypass the mediation of Pepsi Frito-Lay. Towards the end it was his favorite drink rum and Cherry Pepsi, while he may never coca products in your home.
Next to the bedroom, there is no living room, complete withKitchen installed for him. On one wall there is a selection of currency exchange of the Texas Republic of Texas. I note that in London there is a small plaque to determine where the legacy of Texas was 1842-1845.
There are a number of cards to Texas for one of the walls, one of the favorites, such as the western border of the great state of Texas, Rio Grande shows, and that the map includes the headwaters of the Rio Grande - to Canada.
T. was a GentilzThe scientists, who for Henri Castro. As such, T. Gentilz would travel between Castroville and San Antonio, with approximately three days, to complete the journey. He stopped along the road, drawing, painting, drawing, the local color. There are several paintings completed, one seems to be incomplete, it is an art historian, is the "queen" of the San Antonio Missions San Jose.
There is another picture, a part of the collection, but the untrained eye, illiterate, style and execution is soOtherwise, I am inclined to think it was a fake or counterfeit. A local historian who knew Walter suggested that Walter knew it was a hoax, but the second has insisted that it was not. Oral tradition over the true origin.
The door that leads into the back porch, and scale attributes. Included in this flight is a short series of steps that could lead to a kind of closet, or sewing corner. Top of the stairs there is a collection of circus figures, probably from China and other apparentlyphonograph work, the kind with a crank Edison wax cylinders and visible for registration.
Down the stairs, there is a narrow staircase, certainly not ADA-compliant and potentially dangerous for loose rugs, there is the finest collection of paintings and prints.
Most of the collection, of which, what I've gathered came from the acquisition of the estate Mary Bonner. What I said was, Mary Bonner went to Paris to study painting, and a teacher told herdin't have the strength to be a painter, so you look at print-making should take place.
Based on their house in San Antonio, skiing, his prints were cowboys and Texas toast-related topics in France.
It happens. Texans love. You know, Texas is bigger than France?
Mary Bonner, the collection, but to do just that back stairwell, the whole trip worthwhile.
There are some sketches of the missions, then Maria Bonner works.
TheTo relax in the kitchen to the stairs. This was a job cooking. Rumor is, the refrigerator still frozen, was the first of the historic Trust took over.
There are all kinds of cutlery, pans, Wedgewood, and China. The story is a dish to serve, and Walter Mathis was found, it uses the value of the pot. Now on the wall.
The woodwork has been restored and revived itself in the Sullivan House, another victim of growth of San Antonio.
Because there was areal, working kitchen, spices, the "good" and had "eye-appeal", the spices have been exposed. The shutters wardrobe, and office hours, instead of the spices unattractive. There are pots of pasta and desserts, sweets and so on, and have not changed, at least not yet. Probably will not be touched, looks good, seems preserved.
The chandelier in the kitchen, a kind of vile imitation of glass, tinted glass, wood and brass? The story, which was in the front room, originally.Walter Mathis took a store of mission, and a guy offered him $ 500, on the spot for the chandelier. When asked why he wanted Walter to sell for $ 50, these are $ 1,969, so a lot of money, then the potential buyer has indicated that the lamp, chandelier, was signed by Tiffany. A real Tiffany lamp.
(Source of this is suspect, too. Very suspicious.)
It is now hung up in the kitchen.
Adjacent to the kitchen is the pantry butlerwith full wet bar, wood working furniture recovery.
Finally, the pool-room. At this point I am out of energy, with the better part of 45 minutes or so to speak, and a little 'tired. Pewter Room. Many of tin on the shelf, beer mugs and the maiden of the Rhine
Another chandelier delightfully horrible, in fact, an old beer garden. Candelabra, the old country. He came from a German sedan with German immigrants, perhaps a little 'before the final house was built. Byat the turn of the century, moved to the Buckhorn Saloon, open during Prohibition to make his return to the cave Walters. Ride of the Valkyries? Yes, this type of Rhine Maiden, see Wagner's Ring cycle, first and last works. You should be on guard the gold of the Rhine
The other is a very bizarre Art Nouveau lamp. The trio. Generally difficult to say, but it seems that a man with two naked women topless intertwined. It was the story, bought this as a table lamp, andhigh in the vicinity of five or six feet, is not really well set on a table, but this is what it is now.
Through the back door, on the back porch. It 'easy to see, while outside the boots, and where' the new material was added to the original construction. Under the back of a basement was added.
One of the owners, casino owners, when it was n the city of San Antonio, and when the ban hit, moved his operation to its basement. Unverified. The gambling operations company,House, Speakeasy, the reputation of all the support, but not the facts establishing the charges.
Once the boots are made, there is a small arc around the building, Walter Mathis's ashes are buried under a flag, a concierge serves small and the great coach-house as a place for some offices, and a bathroom and lockers for large bags.
The original plan for this section of the route of the river was owned by Villa Finale, and threatening to cut domain. Mr. Mathis, asCivic leader and patron of the arts, Hall fought - and won. Check out a plat of the antenna, and the curves of the river around his property.
There are three friezes set in the south wall, which borders the property. Same Artist as a monument to the Alamo City.
The tour ends in wrought iron gazebo, cupola. Grandson of Walter was there, married in the spring of 1970, and the tube was like a museum ever since.
Family members have turned Villa Finale, and mostcommon comment: "Wow, just as he left, only now, everything is so clean ...."
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