A Gilded Age
"A Gilded Age," by William West Designs, pays homage to the ostentatious and opulent wealth of the burgeoning American upper class. The textiles, linens, and wall coverings radiate a luxurious grandeur, mirroring the extravagant tastes of the era.
During the Gilded Age, Newport, Rhode Island, became the playground of America's wealthiest families, a glittering enclave where industrial titans like the Vanderbilts and Astors built opulent summer "cottages" along the rugged coastline. These palatial estates, adorned with marble, gold leaf, and the finest European art, stood as monuments to their owners' immense fortunes. Newport's summer season became synonymous with extravagant balls, lavish dinner parties, and yachting regattas, where the upper crust showcased their wealth and social status.
In the midst of Newport’s grandeur, The Breakers, Marble House, and Rosecliff rose like Renaissance palaces, with architecture inspired by European châteaux and classical antiquity. The city became the backdrop for a way of life that epitomized Gilded Age luxury—a gilded spectacle of social climbing and high society, with its elaborate gowns, glittering jewels, and strict codes of etiquette. Yet, much like the era itself, Newport reflected a sharp divide between the elite's splendor and the laborers who built and maintained their lifestyles.