Parker's favorites in Biltmore House
Written By Judy Ross
Posted 01/11/13
Updated 01/11/13
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Winter is a perfect time to visit Biltmore and admire the combination of architecture, art, and sculpture that makes Biltmore House so amazing. In case you don’t have time to notice every little detail, we’ve asked some of our employees to share their favorite things in the house so you too can appreciate what makes Biltmore special. Check back next week for another insider’s favorite thing!
Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture, has been with Biltmore for 13 years; prior to coming to the estate, he worked in other public gardens including Callaway Gardens.
Parker has two favorites in Biltmore House. The first is the sculpture “Boy Stealing Geese”—the centerpiece of the Winter Garden. Karl Bitter, a Viennese artist who immigrated to America in 1889, created the beautiful marble and bronze fountain sculpture located in the glass-roofed garden room.
Parker’s other favorites are in Mrs. Vanderbilt’s Bedroom—in fact, they are the colors of the walls and trim in Edith Vanderbilt’s room. “The colors remind me of a birthday cake because the walls and moldings are all pastels,” he said. Part of the family’s private quarters on the Second Floor, Mrs. Vanderbilt’s Bedroom is oval in shape, decorated in the Louis XV style featuring delicately carved furniture and ornate cut velvet bed hangings and draperies.
You can see both the Winter Garden and Mrs. Vanderbilt’s Bedroom during your visit to Biltmore House. We invite you to take time this season and enjoy these favorite things!
