Downton Abbey: The Exhibition ended September 7, 2020. Please enjoy this archived content.
In honor of Biltmore playing host to Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, we’ve recognized some of the similarities—and differences—between these two great houses. Now, let’s take a deeper dive into one of the primary differences of domestic service in American and English households of the era were managed. It all boils down to one simple question: Who runs the house?
Archival sketch of Biltmore House façade, drafted prior to construction, does not include the glass-roofed Winter Garden that was added as plans were finalized
George Vanderbilt’s vision for Biltmore was heavily influenced by the model of similar English estates, much like Downton Abbey; however, the American interpretation of this system had its differences to the British one.
Though they often hired British staff to manage Biltmore House, in the United States it was the standard for the head housekeeper to be in charge over the staff, rather than the butler.
Bell Board from below stairs in Downton Abbey, as seen in our newest exhibition
At Downton Abbey, it’d be hard to imagine Mr. Carson, the butler, serving beneath Mrs. Hughes, the head housekeeper—though she certainly illustrated that she was more than capable of influencing him.
At Biltmore, head housekeeper Emily Rand King, affectionately known as Mrs. King although she was unmarried, ran almost everything downstairs at Biltmore just as Mr. Carson does at Downton Abbey.
Detail of Call Box in the Butler’s Pantry in Biltmore House
“Mrs. King was the boss,” said Winnie Titchener-Coyle, associate archivist. “That’s one of the differences—in the U.S., women could have that high-level managerial role.”
While Mrs. King didn’t oversee the butler’s work per se, she certainly had more responsibilities than that of a head housekeeper in a British household—Downton Abbey’s Mrs. Hughes, for instance.
“Mrs. King administered salaries and had to have her own budget,” Winnie said. “She supervised staff, and she managed household supplies and linens, cleaning supplies and tools.”
The Butler’s Pantry, as seen on The Biltmore House Backstairs Tour
Plan your visit for now through September 7, 2020, to discover Downton Abbey: The Exhibition—on display at both Amherst at Deerpark and The Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village.
We invite you to learn more about the staff of Biltmore House—as well as the staff of Downton Abbey—with our new Through the Servants’ Eyes Tour during your next visit to Biltmore.
Feature image: Servants’ Hall in Biltmore House, where staff could relax and socialize when not on duty
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition ended September 7, 2020. Please enjoy this archived content.
From November 8, 2019 through April 7, 2020, Biltmore is hosting Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, an immersive, must-see event that pays homage to the show.
The multimedia display in Amherst at Deerpark includes holograms, video, and life-size imagery—plus some of the series’ most recognizable sets, including Mrs. Patmore’s kitchen and the gossip-fueled servants’ quarters.
The estate has a variety of additional offerings that connect to the exhibition. Here are our top 5 picks:
The limited-time exhibition continues in Antler Hill Village with costumes on display at The Biltmore Legacy.
5. Costumes at The Biltmore Legacy
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition itself extends to The Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village where more than 50 official costumes from the series’ six-season run—worn by actors such as Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, and Dame Maggie Smith—will be on display.
Stroll through lush late summer blooms in the Walled Garden
4. Stroll Through Stunning Gardens
In one episode of the series, Lord and Lady Grantham had the delightful task of presiding over the annual village flower show. While visiting Biltmore, be sure to stroll through our four-acre English-style Walled Garden filled with roses and a glorious mix of summer annuals and perennials, exotic grasses, and more–and don’t miss the glass-roofed Conservatory that houses hundreds of tropical specimens.
Our charming estate shops offer a wide range of Downton Abbey-inspired items, including a variety of lovely tea sets.
3. Downton Abbey-Inspired Products
For a limited-time, shops throughout the estate are offering a variety of Downton-inspired items. Browse fashions such as fascinators, jewelry, scarves, hat pins, and more—inspired by the styles worn by characters in the show. Tea sets, books, and additional accessories relating to the era are also available.
Our newest tour takes you into rarely seen areas of Biltmore House, such as fascinating parts of the Sub-Basement.
2. The Biltmore House Backstairs Tour
Developed exclusively to coincide with Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, The Biltmore House Backstairs Tour is a brand new behind-the-scenes tour. Hear the fascinating stories of those who worked and lived on the estate while visiting rarely seen servants’ areas including the Butler’s Pantry and beyond.
With so much to see and do at Biltmore during your getaway, stay overnight at The Inn (above), Village Hotel (below), or one of our private historic cottages to ensure you have time to experience it all.
1. Stay Overnight to Make the Most of Your Visit
Both The Inn on Biltmore Estate® and Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate® offer an exciting opportunity to stay overnight on the property, ensuring you have time to see and do it all. Take your time while enjoying Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, and take in all the glorious costumes from the series on display at The Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition ended September 7, 2020. Please enjoy this archived content.
Did you know everyday life in Biltmore House bore striking resemblance to fictional life at Downton Abbey? In honor of Biltmore playing host to Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, let’s take a look at some of the similarities—and differences—between these two grand homes.
Archival image of estate workers during harvest season at Biltmore, ca. 1900
A Working Estate
The greatest overarching parallel between Downton Abbey and Biltmore is the idea of both as working estates overseen by one man and his family. While Downton Abbey is set in England, George Vanderbilt’s vision for Biltmore was heavily influenced by the model of similar English estates. There were numerous tenant families working the land, and the Vanderbilts grew to know each of these families closely over the years.
The Servants’ Hall in Biltmore House, where staff could relax and socialize
Household Staff
Within the houses, the standards of domestic service were much the same between the Crawleys and the Vanderbilts. While there were some differences in the ways American and English households were managed, the housekeeper played a major role. At Biltmore, this role was primarily filled by Mrs. King; for Downton Abbey, it’s Mrs. Hughes—both known for their massive house key rings and calm demeanors.
Detail of electrical switchboard in the sub-basement of Biltmore House
Technological Advancements
Though numerous characters within the Downton Abbey household, both above stairs and below, expressed concerns about advancements in technology, they were widely embraced at Biltmore. Even in 1895, Biltmore House was constructed with many of these in mind: telephones, elevators, forced heating, mechanical refrigeration, an electric servant call bell system, electric lighting, and more.
Restoring the wallcovering of the Louis XV Room in Biltmore House
Preserving the Home
One of the primary themes in Downton Abbey is the importance Lord Grantham and his family place on preserving and maintaining their home for succeeding generations. This has also been a prime concern at Biltmore for George Vanderbilt’s descendants. Today, the estate is owned and overseen by the fourth and fifth generations of the family.
Join us November 8, 2019 through April 7, 2020 to experience Downton
Abbey like never before—amid George Vanderbilt’s magnificent estate—with
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition at Biltmore.
Twice a year, Biltmore’s Conservatory is home to Biltmore Gardens Railway, an elaborate G-scale railway with locomotives and rail cars weaving through the historic greenhouse’s exotic botanicals and miniature replicas of estate landmarks – even one of the Conservatory itself! A second railway display is located in Antler Hill Village where trains travel past replicas of the Eiffel Tower, London’s Tower Bridge, and other European landmarks visited by George Vanderbilt during his world travels.
Working from original floor plans, drawings with elevations, and photographs of Biltmore House and other estate structures, a team with Applied Imagination constructed the Biltmore replicas using natural materials they gathered from estate grounds. The result is a stunningly accurate version of Biltmore.
Some fun facts and figures to consider about Biltmore Gardens Railway:
“Luxuriant” bamboo, as Frederick Law Olmsted called it when planning George Vanderbilt’s gardens and grounds, was harvested and used as the roofing material on the Biltmore House replica. Grapevine was also collected and fashioned into Biltmore’s iconic gargoyles.
1,700 – The number of hours it took to construct the 10-foot-long replica of Biltmore House, compared to… the 6 years it took to build the 250-room Biltmore House in the late 1800s.
6 – The number of artists it took to build the scale model of Biltmore House, compared to… the 1,000 workers it took to build Biltmore House in the late 1800s.
5,000 – The number of tons of Indiana limestone used to build Biltmore House in the late 1800s, compared to… the 25 types of items harvested from estate grounds to create replicas of Biltmore House and other buildings. This included horse chestnut, magnolia leaves, hickory nuts, lotus pods, bamboo, pine cone scales, acorn caps, winged bean, star anise, grapevine, honeysuckle, ash bark, oak bark, pine bark, elm bark, hickory bark, eucalyptus leaves, day lily stem, rose of sharon, cedar branch, walnuts, stewartia, wisteria, turkey tail fungus, and contorted Filbert.
Artists from Applied Imagination suited up in waders to snip a few treasures from the Italian Garden pools. The lotus pods growing there were just too perfect to pass up, and ended up in the creation of the Stables.
6 – The number of separate railroad tracks running through the Conservatory carrying locomotives and rail cars around the buildings. The trains cross bridges and trestles on varied levels and through multiple rooms.
8 – The number of estate building replicas in the Conservatory.
7 – The number of artists it took to create all of the replicas in the Conservatory.
3,745 –The number of combined hours it took to construct eight estate building replicas for the Conservatory exhibition.
8 – The number of buildings in the display at Antler Hill Village.
1,050 – Amount of railroad track in feet required for the displays.
1 – Amount of weeks to install Biltmore Gardens Railway at two locations on the estate.
In the summer of 2019, Biltmore Gardens Railway brought large-scale model railroads and handmade buildings connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt to two locations on the estate—the Conservatory and Antler Hill Village.
The exhibition featured replica structures fashioned from all-natural materials, largely collected from the estate, to offer a one-of-a-kind, fun-for-all-ages experience.
Enjoy a special look at the structures and stories that inspired Biltmore Gardens Railway.
Conservatory Display: Structures from the estate and surrounding area
Photograph of Biltmore House and the Italian Garden, ca. 1910
Biltmore House with Fountain & Rampe Douce Completed in 1895, Biltmore House was a collaborative effort between George Vanderbilt and architect Richard Morris Hunt. It took six years to construct America’s Largest Home®. The 250-room French Renaissance chateau contains more than four acres of floor space, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces.
Photograph of the Stable Complex construction from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1894
Stable Complex An important part of a turn-of-the-century country home, the stables housed the Vanderbilts’ 30–40 driving and riding horses. Correspondence in Biltmore’s Archives indicates that George Vanderbilt made every effort to procure the best horses possible for the estate. Original horses’ names included Ida, Pamlico, and Maud.
Photograph of the Conservatory from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1910
Conservatory This grand structure was built to provide flowers and plants for Biltmore House year-round—a role it continues to fulfill today. Carefully placed at the lower end of the Wall Garden so as not to obstruct the view from Biltmore House, the Conservatory includes a Palm House and an Orchid House and spans more than 7,000 square feet.
Photograph of All Souls’ Church from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1906
All Souls’ Church Commissioned by George Vanderbilt, All Souls’ Church was the anchor—architecturally, spiritually, and socially—of nearby Biltmore Village. The church as well as the rest of the buildings in the village were the result of a collaboration between Biltmore House architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
Photograph of the Biltmore Passenger Station from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1899
Biltmore Passenger Station* The Passenger Station in Biltmore Village was the first stop for many of the Vanderbilts’ guests when they arrived in Western North Carolina on their way to the estate. Family and friends were met there by the Vanderbilts’ carriage or car and brought up the breathtaking three-mile Approach Road to Biltmore House.
Photograph of deer at the Bass Pond Waterfall from the Biltmore collection, ca. 1950
Bass Pond Waterfall Designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the Bass Pond was created by greatly enlarging an old creek-fed millpond. In order to keep the pond free of sediment and debris caused by heavy rains, Olmsted engineered an ingenious flume system to divert debris and storm water through a conduit laid on the lake bed.
Photograph of The Gardener’s Cottage from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1892
The Gardener’s Cottage One of the first buildings completed on the estate, the Gardener’s Cottage served as the residence of Biltmore’s first head gardener. The one-and-a-half story stone cottage was originally occupied Mr. Robert Bottomley, who was the estate’s head gardener until November 1903.
Photograph of the Lodge Gate from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1900
Lodge Gate Located at the entrance to the estate from Biltmore Village, the Lodge Gate provided round-the-clock security by means of a resident gatekeeper. Other entrances to Biltmore also had gatehouses and gatekeepers, though the Lodge Gate was considered the main entrance to George Vanderbilt’s grand estate.
Antler Hill Village Display: Landmarks from George Vanderbilt’s travels
Photograph of Pisgah National Forest Entry Gate, ca. 1916-1936
Pisgah National Forest Entry Gate – Transylvania County, North Carolina Just before George Vanderbilt’s death in 1914, he was involved in negotiations to sell a large portion of his estate to the federal government in hopes that it would become a forest preserve. His wife Edith later completed this undertaking, selling 87,000 acres of the estate to establish the core of what later became Pisgah National Forest.
Photograph of Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, ca. 2009
Vanderbilt Mansion – Hyde Park, New York George Vanderbilt’s brother Frederick Vanderbilt and his wife Louise created a seasonal home in Hyde Park, NY. The house was inspired by a classical Palladian villa and was surrounded by formal and informal gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who later served as the landscape architect for Biltmore.
Photograph of a Dutch windmill taken by George Vanderbilt’s grandson, William A. V. Cecil, ca. 1950
Windmill & Three Classic Canal House Façades – Amsterdam, The Netherlands The Vanderbilt family line originated in Holland in the village of De Bilt, not far from Amsterdam. The Vanderbilts’ ancestors immigrated to the Dutch colony of New Netherland around 1650, eventually settling near present-day Staten Island, New York. George Vanderbilt visited his family’s homeland in 1897.
Photograph of the Eiffel Tower from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1890
Eiffel Tower – Paris, France This Paris landmark was already an icon when George and Edith Vanderbilt were married on June 1, 1898 in a civil ceremony after a whirlwind courtship abroad. An understated religious ceremony was held the following day at the American Church of the Holy Trinity, attended only by family and close friends.
Photograph of the Arc de Triomphe from George Vanderbilt’s collection, ca. 1885
Arc De Triomphe – Paris, France After the Vanderbilt’s Parisian marriage ceremony, the wedding party attended a breakfast at the apartment Edith shared with her sisters on Rue Vernet, just an avenue away from the iconic Arc de Triomphe. Edith’s sister Natalie provided two bottles of champagne that their maternal grandfather had set aside at Edith’s birth to be served on her wedding day.
Colorized photograph of Tower Bridge, ca. 1900
Tower Bridge – London, England In June 1897, George Vanderbilt rented an apartment on London’s Pall Mall to witness the celebration surrounding Queen Victoria’s 60-year reign. Among his guests viewing the festivities from the balcony was his future bride, Edith Stuyvesant Dresser, likely marking the beginning of their romance.
Engraving of the USS Vanderbilt, ca. 1862
USS Vanderbilt – Transatlantic Service Cornelius “The Commodore” Vanderbilt, George Vanderbilt’s grandfather and founder of the family fortune, commissioned a steamship in 1856 dubbed the Vanderbilt, once hailed as “the largest vessel that has ever floated on the Atlantic Ocean.”
*Feature image: Recreation of Biltmore Passenger Station; this structure is on display in both the Conservatory and Antler Hill Village.
In honor of our upcoming harvest season, let’s take a look behind the scenes to understand sustainability in our winemaking at Biltmore.
Fall marks the beginning of our
winemaking process. During the seasonal harvest, our grapes are
hand-picked in the vineyard and brought to the Winery, where their stems are
removed.
Grapes are picked by hand in Biltmore’s vineyard on the west side of the estate
The grapes are then crushed and put in tanks to ferment. Afterwards, our wines are moved into barrels or other tanks to age. Some varieties need six months for aging, while other need up to two years. Finally, our wines are blended, bottled, and sealed.
The process is a delicate balance of art and science. And if you take a glimpse behind the scenes, you’ll find that our efforts are geared towards more than just crafting award-winning wines. We also strive for environmental stewardship and sustainability in winemaking, every step of the way.
Composting
grapes
We combine all remaining parts of the grapes—skins, seeds, and even the woody stems—with recycled plants and other organic matter at our large compost site. About once a year, after being turned regularly, the finished compost is used asfertilizer in our gardens as well as our field crops, which serve as food plots for wildlife on the estate.
Repurposing
barrels
Once our Winery can no longer use its wine barrels, made of French, American, and Hungarian oak blends, they are repurposed across the estate in a variety of ways.
For instance, many wine barrels end
up at A Gardener’s Place shop
to be used as decorative holders for estate-grown plants. Some
barrels are used to create rustic-style bars for outdoor Winery events,
while others find their way into Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate and The Kitchen Café to be used as towel
containers and trash cans.
“Almost all of the businesses on the property have repurposed a barrel at one time or another,” says Biltmore winemaker Sharon Fenchak.
Recycling
corks
A wine barrel repurposed for recycling corks
In addition to recycling the usual
materials—cardboard, plastic, glass, paper, and steel—the Winery recycles wine
corks.
Natural corks, as opposed to screw
caps and synthetic corks, are themost sustainable wine
closure on the market.
Cork is a renewable and biodegradable material harvested through an environmentally friendly process. We have partnered with Cork Forest Conservation Alliance through their Cork ReHarvest program to help educate the public on the importance of using and recycling natural corks.
Cork recycling locations include:
Gate House Gift Shop, located at the main entrance of Biltmore
Biltmore Winery
Estate restaurants
You can also mail used corks to:
Biltmore Estate Wine Company Re: Cork Recycling 1 North Pack Square Asheville, NC 28801
To create A Vanderbilt House Party, our Museum Services team worked with designer John Bright and his team at Cosprop, London, to recreate clothing and a vital piece of George and Edith’s ensembles from their engagement portraits: the diamond and ruby brooch George gave to her as an engagement gift.
Our team decided that the elaborate piece simply had to be recreated in order to truly capture Edith’s look in the portrait.
Place Vendôme in Paris, site of the Boucheron flagship store, ca. 1890–1900
First Things First
The first step for our team was to determine the jeweler that crafted Edith’s original brooch, which was part of a set that also included a choker necklace and tiara. One of our curators had a hunch that the piece resembled the work of Boucheron, a high-end French jewelry house established in 1858.
Boucheron’s company archivist was able to confirm that they indeed had a receipt of George Vanderbilt having purchased the set on May 7, 1898—just after his and Edith’s April engagement and prior to their June wedding.
Luckily, Boucheron was also able to share with us the original 1898 photo of brooch from their archives, which turned out to be an incredibly helpful reference in the recreation of the piece.
Left: Edith‘s engagement portrait, 1898; Right: archival catalog photo of the original brooch (Courtesy of Boucheron Heritage Department)
A Master Artisan
John Bright and the Cosprop team recommended artisan Martin Adams for the job. Martin specializes in making jewelry and jewelry-related props, including crowns, tiaras, regalia, and the like.
In his 43 years of prop-making, Martin has worked on countless notable movie, television, and theater productions, including Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Titanic, The Crown, Downton Abbey, Hamilton, and the list truly just goes on and on.
Given the high demand and prestige of Martin’s work, our team considered themselves fortunate that he undertook recreating Edith’s brooch—and that he gave it such time.
Early sketch of the recreated brooch’s frame (Courtesy of Martin Adams)
The Recreation Begins
We supplied him with Boucheron’s archival photo of the brooch, which captured its fine details, as well as our photos of Edith wearing it, which showed the brooch from various angles, displaying its depth.
But in order to determine the actual size of the piece, the Cosprop team made photographic cut-outs of the brooch in various scales—under Martin’s direction—to see which size appeared to be most accurate against the backdrop of Edith’s gown as it, too, was being recreated.
Comparing the archival photo of the original with an early trial stage of construction (Courtesy of Martin Adams)
Martin then set to work on the frame of the piece, which he pierced from flat sheet copper. He filed the copper to give it steeply sloping sides, which gives the appearance of being delicate, while still maintaining its strength. The whole frame was them gently hammered over a dome-shaped block to give the brooch the correct dimension and depth.
Struggles with Stones
With the exception of two stones, all of the diamonds in the original brooch were boat-shaped stones, known as a marquise or navette cut. Martin estimated that the piece’s 46 diamonds were in five different sizes—from 6mm long (just under a quarter of an inch) to 14mm long (a bit more than half an inch).
He chose to use cubic zirconia which, particularly for a piece that will be viewed closely, would provide a much better representation of diamonds than would foil-backed stones, which are commonly found in costume jewelry.
Both the largest and smallest stone-mounts used in the recreation (Courtesy of Martin Adams)
As for the rubies, Martin obtained samples of the richest red stones available, including red cubic zirconia, synthetic rubies, and red paste stones—but none of them had deep enough color. He finally found just enough rich red Swarovski stones in the four main sizes he needed.
However, Martin had to settle for using a synthetic ruby as the massive cushion-shaped stone in the center. Although to the trained eye the stone may appear a slightly lighter shade than the rest, he simply could not find a better alternative to fit the size.
Comparing the accuracy of the custom-made mounts (left) with pre-made mounts (right) (Courtesy of Martin Adams)
And Struggles with Stone-Mounts
After a few failed attempts using ready-made stone-mounts, Martin realized he needed to make the mounts from scratch in order for the piece to be as authentically recreate Edith’s brooch.
This required him to make 10 different mount models—the main body of the brooch consists of five different stone-mount sizes, there are four different joint mounts, and one mount just for the central stone. He used the models to make molds, from which he then cast each of the mounts.
Martin’s final challenge was to grind down and polish the 14 “diamond” wafers for the pendant sections, as nothing like this was available to buy.
He then set all of the stones in their mounts individually. And after upwards of 200 hours of work, the brooch was complete.
The completed recreation of Edith Vanderbilt’s Boucheron brooch
The Finished Piece
“This turned out to be one of the most complicated and time-greedy jobs I have ever done,” said Martin. “It has also been one of the most rewarding.”
From start to finish, the entire process took nearly 8 months and the final result is nothing short of stunning. Having a recreation of this quality allows us to tell more of the Vanderbilts’ romance and courtship story through a tangible, exceptionally beautiful object.
We are overjoyed that it is now part of Biltmore’s permanent collection. The brooch is on display in the Tapestry Gallery of Biltmore House now through May 27 as part of our A Vanderbilt House Party exhibition.
In addition to boasting the latest and greatest in technology, Biltmore Estate required an exceptional team of domestic staff, also referred to as “domestic servants,” to ensure the house operated like a well-oiled machine.
How many domestic staff members would have worked in Biltmore House during George Vanderbilt’s era and what types of roles would they have held? Continue reading to find out!
Vignette of Mrs. King and Edith Vanderbilt in the Oak Sitting Room as displayed in the 2019 exhibition, “A Vanderbilt House Party.”
Staffing America’s Largest Home
In the days when George, Edith, and Cornelia Vanderbilt resided at Biltmore, they employed up to 40 staff members who each played a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of the house and stable. With large house parties of guests coming and going throughout the year, Biltmore functioned more like a luxury hotel than it did a house. As soon as guests arrived on the estate, the domestic staff ensured that each of their needs were met.
George Vanderbilt not only provided room, board, and uniforms to his staff, but he also compensated his employees with New York wages, a substantially higher rate than the Asheville standard. Staff wages could be up to $2 for higher-ranking staff, which is substantial given that a week of room and board typically cost $2.50.
Demographically speaking, the domestic staff was majority female. While many of the servants were native North Carolinians, there were also a number of employees from around the globe including an English Head Housekeeper, a French cook, a Swedish laundress, and an Irish Butler.
Higher Ranking Domestic Staff
The domestic staff members were classified into two groups: upper and lower staff. The higher the ranking, the more defined the responsibilities of their role. While each member of the staff provided invaluable service to the Vanderbilts, there were a few upper roles that maintained the standard of service and hospitality for which Biltmore is renowned.
The wardrobe of Biltmore’s Head Housekeeper was recreated for the exhibition A Vanderbilt House Party – The Gilded Age (which was on display in 2019. The detailed recreation included a chatelaine (an accessory used to carry keys) the Head Housekeeper would wear at all times.
HEAD HOUSEKEEPER
At Biltmore, the Head Housekeeper was among the highest-ranking staff members and the chief female servant. She reported directly to Edith Vanderbilt at Biltmore.
Whether single or married, the Head Housekeeper was always addressed as “Mrs.” out of respect.
The Head Housekeeper supervised all lower-ranking female staff, with the exception of the Chef’s kitchen staff.
She oversaw the cleaning of the house, household inventory, and held keys to the storerooms, pantries, china closet, and still room.
The Head Housekeeper typically dressed in a black dress.
Read more about Emily King, one of Biltmore’s first housekeepers.
BUTLER
As the highest-ranking male staff member in Biltmore, the Butler was responsible for all lower-ranking manservants.
His primary responsibility was to ensure that Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt and their guests were seamlessly served three meals daily, as well as afternoon tea.
The Butler was also tasked with maintaining the family china, crystal, and silver (which was stored in the aptly named Butler’s Pantry)
Other duties of the Butler: creating floral arrangements; overseeing the storage, decanting, and serving of wine; maintaining the clocks; greeting guests upon arrival; and assisting with the departures and return of Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt, as well as their guests.
The Butler’s livery was formal and often included a coat with tails and multiple monogrammed buttons.
An archival photograph of Edith Vanderbilt’s Lady’s Maid Martha Laube. Photograph courtesy of A. Babette Schmid Schmaus.
LADY’S MAID
The Lady’s Maid served as a personal companion to Edith and/or Cornelia Vanderbilt.
The Lady’s Maid traveled with her mistress and managed her correspondence, and she was also responsible for dressing her mistress and combing her hair.
The lady’s maid was also expected to be quite skilled at sewing, as her responsibilities included mending and packing Mrs. Vanderbilt and Cornelia’s clothing.
Instead of a uniform, the Lady’s Maid wore dresses gifted or no longer worn by her mistress, which was regarded as a privilege.
The lady’s maid was referred to by her last name.
Recreation of clothing worn by George Vanderbilt’s valet as it was displayed in “A Vanderbilt House Party” exhibition in 2019. Over his arm is a driving duster, as if he is assisting George prepare for a drive across his estate.
VALET
The valet was one of the older and more experienced members of the male staff (typically in his 30s) who reported directly to George Vanderbilt.
The valet traveled with George Vanderbilt and attended social functions and events with him.
His responsibilities included making travel arrangements for George Vanderbilt. (Mr. Vanderbilt would travel first class, while his valet traveled in second.)
The valet would be familiar with foreign languages, and be an expert of fishing and hunting to assist Mr. Vanderbilt.
He did not wear a uniform and, like the lady’s maid, he was addressed by his last name.
To be invited to dinner with the Vanderbilts was to experience an elaborate, ceremonious affair. Amid their evening parties and celebrations, dinner in the Banquet Hall was often the highlight of a stay at Biltmore.
Let’s take a look at a few things to note as a guest at the Vanderbilts’ table around the turn of the century.
Even the dining linens used at Biltmore House were of the highest quality available.
5. Linens
Every detail of the Vanderbilt dining experience was of the highest quality—even down to the linens. An early inventory in Biltmore’s archives notes 1,139 linen napkins and 111 linen tablecloths in the collection. All of the linens were handmade and most were monogrammed by the famous needleworker Madame Dufoir in Paris, France.
Archival seating chart dated Saturday, November 26, 1898
4. Seating
Dinner customs of the era required seating assignments for formal meals. These assignments were often identified using name cards at each place setting and it was not uncommon for seating records to be kept. Edith Vanderbilt kept such records. Above is a seating diagram she created for a large dinner with the Vanderbilts just before the turn of the century.
Extravagant meals required equally extravagant place settings.
3. Place Settings
Whether for grand banquets or intimate family meals, the Vanderbilts’ head butler and his staff spared no finery in setting the Banquet Hall table. Spread with more than 40 pieces of delicate porcelain, exquisite silver, and sparkling crystal per guest, the table attested to the grandeur of America’s Gilded Age.
Dining attire recreations based off images from our archives
2. Attire
Dinner with the Vanderbilts was an elaborate and ceremonious affair—and as such, the event required some of the most extravagant attire of the era. Women’s dresses were made of luxurious silks and satins, adorned with their finest jewels. Men wore white tie, which is more formal than a modern tuxedo, and of course, everything had to be spotless.
Biltmore’s archival menu book dated Saturday, November 12, 1904
1. The Dinner Itself
Often the highlight of a stay at Biltmore, dinner featured between six and ten courses, including soup, fish, entrée, roast or relevé, game and salad, dessert, and coffee to aid digestion. Meals included a combination of store-bought delicacies and the home-grown bounty of estate farms. Dinner also featured as many as five different wine pairings—illustrating George Vanderbilt’s interest in fine wines.
Learn More about Dinner with the Vanderbilts
Like many events at Biltmore, dinner with the Vanderbilts was an experience in and of itself. We invite you to learn more about Biltmore House during the Vanderbilts’ era with our behind-the-scenes tours.
When a distinctive brand such as Biltmore® discovers a like-minded business that expresses the same values, including a deep belief in quality, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design, the two companies have a wonderful opportunity to create something special together. Biltmore and Balsam Hill® are delighted to announce their new partnership. Balsam hill is a company committed to creating the best artificial Christmas trees and holiday décor on the market.
Our Biltmore Gilded Stockings embroidered with beads and faux pearls add extra sparkle to your holiday mantel display.
Creating Balsam Hill
Balsam Hill founder Thomas Harman began the business because of a family member who was allergic to live trees but still wanted to create a festive atmosphere at home during the holidays.
When Thomas’ search for a lifelike artificial Christmas tree came up empty-handed, Balsam Hill’s mission to develop the most realistic and beautiful artificial trees was born.
To accomplish this goal, Balsam Hill designers use site visits and live cuttings as guides to carefully craft trees that mimic nature.
In addition to stunningly realistic Christmas trees, Balsam Hill also creates dazzling seasonal décor—and their Biltmore Collection required a site visit as well.
The company’s designers visited the estate last year during Christmas at Biltmore for inspiration from in and around America’s Largest Home® adorned for the holiday season.
The team also collaborated with Lizzie Borchers, Biltmore’s Floral Displays Manager, to ensure that the colors, quality, and overall feel of the collection were authentic to Biltmore.
Lizzie Borchers, Biltmore Floral Displays Manager, with Balsam Hill décor in the Music Room of Biltmore House
Decking the Halls with Biltmore and Balsam Hill®
This holiday season, the new Biltmore Collection by Balsam Hill is on display in the Music Room of Biltmore House as well as in the guest suites of The Inn on Biltmore Estate™. These elegant products are available for purchase online and at The Marble Lion shop at The Inn.
Feature image: The Biltmore Spruce with hand-strung LED lights; Legacy Wreath and Legacy Garlandare pre-lit with LED lights and decorated with gilded leaves, sprays, and shatter resistant ornaments.
