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the original. The walls at this time were papered, probably with a decorative French
wallpaper readily available in Baltimore by 1815.
The window treatments are based on pattern books of the era and a photograph of
this room in the early 20th century which shows an obsolete set of gilded curtain poles
and pole ends still in place on the architectural frieze, although no longer in use. The
pole ends, in the form of leaves, have been copied from the photograph and a surviving
fragment in the collections.
The fabric selected for the curtains and
the draperies, in imitation of blue and yel-
low silk satin of the period, is based on an
entry in Charles Caman Kidgely's inven-
tory for three pairs of blue silk curtains
with yellow and blue silk draperies. Paper
window shades were also included on that
inventory.
The carpet for this room would have
been a Brussels type coupled with a pro-
tective carpeting under the table of oil
cloth (painted canvas) or green baize. Oil-
cloth floor-coverings were ordered by
Charles Caman Ridgely in large quantity
beginning in 1793, and other painted
floorcloths were indicated in Ridgely in-
ventories as late as 1872. This type of
floor covering was considered extremely
fashionable and could cost as much as
woven carpeting. Canvas was painted to
simulate marble or woven carpet patterns,
and several layers of varnish were then
applied to the surface, making the carpets
durable and easy to clean.
The furniture in this room is generally
of Ridgely provenance with the exception
of the set of mahogany dining tables,
c. 1815, which closely correspond, however, to an entry for "1 Set Claw foot dining tables,"
valued at $60, on Charles Caman Ridgely's inventory. Also on the inventory is '1 Mahogany
Claw foot breakfast table" which may be the breakfast table descended in the Ridgely
family, now present in the Dining Room.
The mahogany dining room side chairs are from at least two sets made in Baltimore,
c.1815, for Charles Carnan Ridgely. The primary set of twelve is unique, with fine leaf
carving on the crest rail, carved rosettes in the scrolled terminals and leaf carved ban-
nisters, clearly the work of master carvers. The bell-shaped seats were stuffed and uphol-
stered in black leather half over the seat rail, later replaced with black oil-cloth. The
upholstery was tacked with brass nails. The front legs are heavily reeded above a turned
collar and outwardly flaring shaped foot.
The secondary set of chairs closely resembles the first set in form, but the execution
Side chair, Baltimore, c.1815. This dining room
chair, mahogany with replacement oil cloth
upholstery, is one of a set of twelve purchased
by Charles Caman Ridgely for use at Hampton.
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