Morven Park Treasures
Conservation Needs For One-Of-A-Kind Artifacts

The Morven Park staff is working to raise awareness for the conservation and care of the cultural heritage that was created by Governor Westmoreland and Marguerite Davis. Funding is needed to complete the necessary work that must be done prior to public display. These items will be carefully restored at the hands of artisans who are well-respected for their dedication and skills of historic artifacts. Treatment of these items insures their continued stability and improved appearance so that visitors may enjoy them for generations to come.

Portrait of Thomas Swann, Jr.
Thomas Swann Jr. owned Morven Park from 1840 until his death in 1883. President of the B&O Railroad, Mayor of Baltimore, and Governor of Maryland during the Civil War; this portrait shows him as a young man in circa 1830.
Cost: $2,500

Commode
This small cabinet is a 19th century French piece acquired by Marguerite Davis during her long career as a collector. It has a brown shaped marble top, painted scene on the front panel, and gilded trim. The entire piece is disfigured by a heavy layer of grime and dirt, and the painted front is in need of careful cleaning to brighten the detailed paintings.
Cost: $2,000

Chair
This elaborately carved Swiss walnut armchair dates back to the late 17th century. All of the joints are loose, making it susceptible to damage each time it’s moved. Conservation will include disassembly of the chair; removal of old failed adhesives, and reassembly. The original red velvet upholstery will be cleaned and reapplied after a stabilizing backer is added.
Cost: $3,000

Dutch Tall Case Clock, Great Hall
This clock is of extraordinary quality and dates back to 1750. Elaborate engraved floral Marquetry decorates the case with a painted silver gilded dial and the complex works include musical chimes. The conservator who estimated the cleaning of the clock works has done extensive work at the White House.
Cost: $24,000

Mirror/Ecclesiastical Ornaments From The Great Hall
The surface requires cleaning, repair of cracks, stabilization of gesso & gilding. This work would improve the cosmetic appearance as well as make the pieces safe for display.
Cost: $3,000

Tapestries, “Fishing,” and “Departure”
These two tapestries are part of a six-piece series telling the story of Antony and Cleopatra. The other four tapestries in this set have been professionally cleaned and repaired over the past two years. Following treatment, the tapestries are much softer to the touch, and details of the images are much clearer. The conservator sewed torn slits to prevent further damage, and the new Velcro hanging system provides uniform support to the textile, preventing the distortion caused by the old rings and hooks. We hope to find funding to complete the work on the series so that the entire story may be told. “Fishing” is currently on display along-side the already conserved tapestries in the Great Hall of the Mansion, showing a contrast to the cleaned pieces. The final tapestry of the set, “Departure” needs cleaning and major stabilization before it can displayed at all.
Cost: “Fishing” $14,000, “Departure,” $70,000