Wattles House - Table of Contents

Interior:  First floor - Gurdon Moses Wattles House
393 Richmond Avenue, Buffalo NY

In 1899, a few years after Louise's death in 1897, Gurdon married her sister, Mrs. Mary Kemptke. With the Pan-American Exposition coming in 1901, he wanted to build a grand home to entertain in. He brought in the finest woodworkers and European artisans to build his home. The home features an impressive foyer, and each of the first floor rooms were done in different woods with woodworkers brought on site to custom mill the woodwork. The signature piece is a hand carved griffin with a gingerbread surround.

Door in the vestibule leading to the foyer Entryway / Foyer / Vestibule   Two details below: Entryway door:  Oak   ...   Corinthian column on pilaster at left   ...     ...    Dentil molding  ...   Leaf molding   ...   Egg-and dart molding Entryway door:    Egg-and dart molding   ...   Scrolling acanthus leaves

Foyer Foyer alcove to the right of the front door   ...   Two details below: Foyer alcove   ...   Paneled wainscoting   ...    Feather backs   ...     Turned legs    ...   Note window at right, which is detailed below: Especially nice Queen Anne leaded window with beveled glass, ripple glass, and jewels Note carved griffin at lower right, shown below from a different angle Steering wheel motif and griffin Staircase curved window features leaded glass Balustrade and newel post   ...   Three newel post details below: Newel post :    Volutes supporting two bellflowers with flanking acanthus leaves Top of newel post Wainscoting   ...   Pocket door leading to the parlor/first parlor/sitting room Floor register

Parlor/First parlor/Sitting room Parlor/First parlor/Sitting room Window surrounds details below: Entablature    ....   Egg-and dart molding Egg-and dart molding   ...   Corinthian pilasters   with fluted   shafts

Second parlor/Sitting room/Music room/Living room Second parlor/Sitting room/Music room/Living room Middle background:  Dining room Leaded glass panel features beveled leaded glass and jewels Mantelpiece features marble surround and slip brick tiles on the hearth   ...   Three mantelpiece details below: Mantelpiece:   Dentil molding on cornice   ...   Oval beveled mirror Mantelpiece:  Acanthus leaf buttress at top  ...   Dentil molding  ...   Engaged Corinthian column with smooth shaft   ...   Acanthus leaves   ...    Ionic capital Mantelpiece:  Engaged Corinthian  column with acanthus leaf capital    ...   Fluting and acanthus leaf support   ...   Egg-and dart molding  ...   455 degree angled acanthus leaf with hanging bellflowers Violin in case was found in a wall during restoration by current owners

Dining Room Bay window features leaded glass windows   ...   Two details below: Faux painted walls   ...   Paneled wainscoting Door surround details below: Entablature   ...   Flanking Corinthian pilasters with fluted shaft Slip brick tiles     ...  Three mantelpiece details below: Dentil molding beneath mantel   ...   Mantelpiece frieze features strapwork at ends and applied scrolling acanthus leaves   ...    Jambs in the form of pilasters Strapwork design on both mantel corner block and  on pilaster Dentil molding beneath mantel   ...    ...   Scrolling acanthus leaves on frieze