Camping in Pisgah Forest, circa 1901 Posted on July 18, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Summertime in the mountains brings to mind thoughts of hiking trails, camping along clear creeks, and marveling at a cascading waterfall—sometimes all on the same excursion. The call of the wild Excursions were multi-day affairs, with campsites like this one being moved to new locations every few days. Just as many of us do today, George Vanderbilt and his friends often found the lush forests of Western North Carolina calling their names. They frequently headed out for multi-day trips to explore the beauty of Pisgah Forest, according to information gathered by Lori Garst, Curatorial Assistant in Museum Services. Several years before George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore House was completed, the call of the mountains led Vanderbilt and his friends into the forest to camp, fish, shoot, and enjoy the beauty of Western North Carolina. Gearing up for success Mules could carry up to 20% of their bodyweight for 20 miles a day, during excursions. In June 1893, Estate manager Charles McNamee wrote to Dr. Westray Battle that he was so glad that Dr. Battle would be joining Mr. Vanderbilt’s camping excursion. McNamee prepared Battle by telling him that the group was headed to a place near Brevard where they would be met by Mr. Vanderbilt’s mules and then would proceed on towards the camp. McNamee outfitted the party for fly fishing and recommended that Battle take a firearm “for service or sport.” Calming any hesitation about roughing it in the backwoods, the Estate manager assured Dr. Battle that there would be tents, a cot for each man, and even a cook. McNamee writes, “I thought it better to be semi-respectable in our camp rather than to be absolutely savage…” The great excursion of 1901 Schenck’s workers built George’s second lodge in three days, earning it the nickname “Three-Day Camp.” The cabin had six rooms, a porch, and a dining room. Years later, a series of photographs taken by Dr. Carl Schenck, Estate Forester, document a lively 1901 trip into Pisgah by Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt. Included in the large party were Dr. Battle, Marion Olmsted (F.L. Olmsted’s daughter), and Dr. Schenk. The Vanderbilts returned from an extended stay in Europe on June 6 and, without wasting any time, Charles McNamee began arranging for the outing within a few days. McNamee ordered two tents on June 8, 1901; however, he received no reply. Requests for the tents continued until June 26. All other provisions for the excursion were in order. Perhaps in response to the lack of tents, a plea came from Vanderbilt to Schenck to build a place where the group could stay near Looking Glass Rock. Revisiting lost memories Edith Vanderbilt favored the beauty of Looking Glass Falls. We are fortunate to have 22 photographs documenting the Vanderbilts’ excursion in 1901, beginning on June 30 with a photo of the group of men with mules. The remaining images show the trip to Looking Glass Rock with stops along the way at Looking Glass Falls, an unnamed waterfall which we now recognize as Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Creek, and “Three-Day” Camp. The final image is of Carl Schenck’s house in Pisgah with the men and mules. The back reads, “Making ready to leave for Buck Spring Lodge July 1, 1901.” Plan your mountain escape! Today, you can still visit the many sites the Vanderbilts’ went to in 1901 including Looking Glass Rock, Sliding Rock, and Looking Glass Falls. There are several camping spots in the area perfect for your summer getaway, too!
5 fabulous ways to make your party kid-friendly Posted on July 15, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Planning a party doesn’t have to be hard work—keeping the menu and décor simple means that you have more time to enjoy your friends and family. Here are five simple suggestions for making a party just as special for your smallest guests as it is for the grown-ups: 1. Create a separate table/space. Our Scalloped Side Table is an elegant piece for any space in your home. On party day, let it do double-duty as a stylish table just for kids. They love having their “own” place that’s set-up and sized just for them, and our Scalloped Side Table provides a sturdy, kid-friendly surface to hold drinks and snacks for little ones. 2. Add some height! We’ve chosen our Beaded 2-Tiered Stand to display an array of colorful snacks. Colorful cupcake liners in the general party tones (they don’t have to match exactly for a kids’ table) make perfect snack-size containers for pretzels, cheese crackers, small chocolates, fruit, and other favorites. 3. No Spills. We went the route of all-natural juice boxes because you don’t have to worry about spills, cups, ice, etc. We’ve used our decorative tin container lined with bright fabric napkins as a grab-and-go display for the drinks (pictured above). Don’t forget napkins—we’ve tucked some colorful paper ones into the back of the container. 4. Homemade. Keeping it simple doesn't mean you can't make it yourself. Having one or two homemade items on the kids’ table is a special touch that parents will appreciate! Try whipping up a batch of our Brown Sugar Nut Granola Bars to serve on our Beaded Monogramed Tray. 5. Easy fruit dip. Add our Southern Raspberry Drink Mix to whipped topping and voilà! a delicious addition to the snack table that kids (and adults) will love. Add some toothpicks with shimmery tips near the fruit for easy dipping, and if you’re feeling extra creative, arrange some of the fruit on top of the dip in a kid-friendly smiley face. Pair the dip with a pitcher of refreshing Southern Raspberry Tea that young and old will enjoy, as well. Remember, keep it simple with creative touches that will make the kids at your party feel special.
Lucas Jack and Biltmore’s Rose Garden Posted on July 10, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux If you are the resident expert for a historic garden like Biltmore’s Rose Garden, people might assume that’s your favorite spot in the estate’s 8,000 acres. But the location Lucas Jack prefers may surprise you. Biltmore’s Rosarian didn’t grow up dreaming of a career cultivating roses. The only exposure to the flower he can remember was an old garden rose his mother received from a neighbor. His rose career was more of a happy accident, fueled by a love of the outdoors, plants, and history. Since 2011, Lucas has overseen the care of 1,800 roses in the estate’s Rose Garden and maintained the space as a show garden for guests within the Walled Garden. In college he worked landscaping jobs to make money that would fund weekend trips to visit his girlfriend Brooke (who became his wife in 2007). He earned a degree in forestry from Haywood Community College and interned at Biltmore in the arboriculture department. After graduation, he started a landscape company, but soon found that tending to the details of running a business didn’t leave him much time to focus on his love of gardening or his desire to become a more proficient gardener. He applied for a full-time position at Biltmore working the perennial borders inside the Walled Garden, but didn’t land it. Instead, he was offered a temporary job in the Rose Garden. The prospect of working with Biltmore’s professional crew of horticulturists appealed to him and it wasn’t long before a sense of direction began to take root. “I felt there was something there for me,” he said. “What I knew of roses was very limited, but I love history and plants so I found that in dealing with roses, you deal with history in some way. “Phillipe Noisette hybridized historic roses in 1811 and 1812 outside Charleston, S.C. in the middle of the War of 1812, and now I'm working with that same species of rose. That strikes me as being a very interesting pursuit considering that historical social climate, yet that's what he did. As gardeners, that's what we are doing now during yet another tumultuous period in history; we are providing a place of beauty and calm here in Biltmore's Gardens.” The role of Biltmore Rosarian is steeped in its own history, as the Rose Garden has been in continuous cultivation since 1895 when Frederick Law Olmsted walked the grounds as George Vanderbilt’s chief horticultural adviser. Lucas relies on Olmsted’s design intent and combines that with contemporary horticulture practices to ensure that Biltmore’s Rose Garden is world-class. Lucas and his team of rosarians maintain more than 200 different cultivars laid out in both French formal and English border designs. The garden is home to nearly every class of roses, and one may find roses of antiquity and new cutting-edge varieties. In addition to taking care of the descendants of those roses planted in the 1890s, Lucas also oversees the planting and cultivation of the Biltmore International Rose Trials, which recently completed its third year of trialing and competition. While he obviously loves the Rose Garden, he has a few other favorite spots around the property, including the hill overlooking the Bass Pond. It’s an easy spot to reach; cross the bridge over the Bass Pond spillway, and then follow the trail to the top of the grassy knoll. “The hill overlooking the Bass Pond and French Broad River is a very pleasant place to catch a breeze and look at hundreds of acres of farmland. This area is simple and natural, showing that there is no need for everything to be planned and structured,” Lucas said. He recommends looking back towards the Bass Pond from your vantage point on the hill to get a great view of the bridge with the forest in the background, especially in the morning. From this point, you can easily see how Biltmore House, gardens, and the grounds beyond are perfectly blended into the natural setting. “It’s a testament to Olmsted’s design and vision for what could be accomplished here at Biltmore,” Lucas said.
Our American Series wine labels are inspired by our past Posted on June 23, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux In 1960, George Vanderbilt’s grandson William A.V. Cecil took over management of Biltmore. In keeping with his grandfather’s vision of a working agricultural property that could sustain itself, Mr. Cecil realized that nothing was more appropriate for a French chateau than a vineyard. The first vines were planted at Biltmore in the early 70s, and by 1983, the Biltmore Estate Wine Company was firmly established. Renovation began on an original dairy structure to convert it into a state-of-the-art winery, which opened to the public in 1985. Early labels In honor of our new wine labels that celebrate our distinguished American appellation, we’re taking a look back at our past: In 1976, our first wine label featured a sketch of Biltmore House along with the Cecil family crest and a rampant lion. The labels were inspired by the very successful Biltmore Dairy logo that consumers already associated with quality and authenticity. Wines bearing this label were only available on the estate. The next iteration of our labels was created in an effort to simplify the process of choosing wines. Each varietal was numbered, beginning with red wines and moving to whites (dryer whites were even numbers and sweeter whites were odd). “It was a hearfelt method for us,” said Jerry, “but we quickly discovered that our customers wanted to know a little bit more about the wine than just its name and number!” These labels appeared in local markets from 1984–1985 and helped kick-off the opening of our new Winery. New designs for new markets This simple, elegant label graced our wines from 1986–1993. Although more refined than its predecessor, it featured the Winery clock tower and lacked a visual reference point to Biltmore House. We updated the label again to include a detailed line sketch of America’s Largest Home® since this was so iconic for our brand. Created for us by the experts of Colonna Farrell Design in Napa Valley, these labels highlighted that our wines were neither “French traditional” nor “California modern,” but authentic to Biltmore and reflective of our own unique style and heritage of winemaking. The labels were a big hit with consumers on and off the estate. Further refinements and new printing techniques resulted in this second Colonna Farrell label with a view of Biltmore House against the Blue Ridge Mountains. This label, which we used from 2001–2008, helped consumers easily identify our location and understand that our wines were crafted and bottled here. More prominence was provided for the varietal, as well, to make it easier to shop our wines. In 2009, these labels were designed as part of an overall branding initiative for the entire company. The new look focused on the wine varietal along with highly recognizable elements of Biltmore House. Five years later, we were ready for the launch of our newest label, which you see as our featured photo for this post. We chose the design experts at CF Napa to help us craft a stunning visual statement that celebrates our history and our passion for fine wines. 2014: A distinctive look and taste Each of our American Series wines is handcrafted to represent true varietal character as well as outstanding taste. Recognizable by their rich red capsule, gorgeous rendering of Biltmore House, and signature of founder George Vanderbilt, the American Series is widely available in restaurants, grocery stores, and wine shops as well as the estate. For our Limited Release wines in the American Series, it was important to create similar-but-distinctive labels to highlight this special collection available only on the estate, online, or through the Vanderbilt Wine Club. “Handcrafted in smaller quantities, our Limited Release wines are unique,” said Jerry. “Our winemakers offer creative varietal blends crafted with special techniques, and we invite you to taste them the next time you visit Biltmore.”
7 Simple Ways To Prep Your Party! Posted on June 12, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux From formal dances and masquerade balls to light-hearted garden parties on the lawn, celebrations at Biltmore House were always held in style. Ready to host your own elegant soiree or homespun hoe-down? Here are our top picks to make your party preparations easier and your event memorable: 1. Choose a theme The easiest way to kick-off your party prep is to choose a theme. Be inspired by the life and times of Cornelia Vanderbilt who grew up in the Jazz Age and consider a 1920s era Gatsby Party or a Downton Abbey-style garden party or festive tea. 2. Color palette Just as brides select wedding colors to help keep things coordinated and under control, a pair of pretty colors will make some of your choices easier. For example, we love the fresh look of green and yellow together for a summer-themed party. 3. Party favors Get creative! Add a meaningful quote to a print you love and roll it up gently, like a scroll, and tie with a pretty ribbon. Your guests can frame them for display in their home or office as a reminder of a wonderful gathering with friends and family. 4. Make it memorable Offer one or two truly distinctive elements that get people excited and keep them talking about your party. Ideas include renting a Photo Booth to preserve all those fun faces or providing old-fashioned lawn games to fire up a competitive spirit. 5. Do it differently Use your garden statuary as a stunning centerpiece or use your birdbath as a temporary wine chiller. Our Hospitality Pineapple is the age-old symbol of hospitality and our Ramp Douce Tortoise is inspired by the stone turtles at the terraced stairway at Biltmore. 6. Take it outside Make a statement by moving some of your favorite furniture pieces outside, like we've done with our Beverage Cart. It will really change the “landscape” of your yard or garden and surprise your guests. Also, don’t limit yourself to paper and plastic just because you’re in the yard—enjoy your pretty serveware outside, too. 7. Simple & Personal To keep the party prep simple while still adding your personal touch, consider easy additions to something you pick up ready-made—like fresh fruit for the sorbet or crushed candy bars as an ice cream topping. Here’s a summer party idea we love: turn plain iced tea into a refreshing Southern Raspberry Iced Tea! Get the recipe here. Click here to discover more Biltmore For Your Home products. Here's to a great party!
Summertime Strolling in the Gardens-Q & A with Parker Andes Posted on June 3, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux We love the long days of summer at Biltmore, especially in the gardens. There’s just something special about an early morning or late afternoon stroll along the winding paths through the Shrub Garden and down into the Walled Garden. Summertime is when this garden is really full of itself! Tropical plantings mix with manicured patterns to create what we think is a Monet landscape come to life. Tropical plants and palms figure heavily into the mix to create the effect, and relate closely to what Biltmore’s original landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, envisioned. His plan called for Biltmore’s summertime gardens to mix tropical elements into manicured areas, as was the style in the late 1890s. Biltmore's horticulture team works diligently to stay true to that vision. We asked Parker Andes, director of that team, to share some fun tidbits about the gardens this year, and what it takes to insure Olmsted's ideas are alive and well on the estate. Open House Blog: How many types of plants are in the Walled Garden pattern beds this year? Parker Andes: There are 18 different types of plants in the Walled Garden pattern beds for summer 2014. OHB: How many specific plants are in the pattern beds? PA: Roughly 14,000. OHB: What is typical summertime bloom span? PA: From June through late September as the weather allows. OHB: What colors will we see in the Walled Garden this year? PA: Purple, peach and lime green. Chartreuse, blue and lavender will also make an appearance. OHB: How many gardeners and how many hours does it take to care for the Walled Garden? PA: It takes six people roughly 40 hours a week, totaling up to 240 hours a week. OHB: What is the largest lily pad in the Italian Garden pools? PA: The Victorian lily pad. In the tropics of South America, they can grow to 10 feet or more in diameter and have been known to support the weight of a small child. For our plants at Biltmore, the leaves will get to 2.5 to 3 feet wide since the air is cooler. Ours don’t support a small child but Green Herons can be seen standing on the leaves early in the mornings, hunting for tadpoles. OHB: What should guests look out for on their next visit? PA: One of my favorite perennials in the Walled Garden that is quite unique is the Pineapple Lily. The Sparkling burgundy variety has a dark foliage bulb with a bloom cluster that looks like a pineapple. OHB: What are some other fun facts about Biltmore's summer gardens that come to mind? PA: Daylilies! We have lots of them. The American Daylily Society will hold its national meeting in Asheville this summer, so as a tribute and with their assistance, we’ve planted hundreds of them throughout the estate, from the Walled Garden to Antler Hill Village. Guests will see some of the latest hybrids of daylilies. OHB: We recently heard that there are actual grapes growing in the Walled Garden, which we didn't realize. Is that true? PA: It is. The Arbor that runs down the center of the garden has four different grape varieties growing on it. They're named after four rivers: Catawba, Concord, Niagara and Delaware. OHB: What is one of your favorite aspects of the Walled Garden in summer? PA: There is a trellis along the wall that provides support for plants we prune and groom in the “espalier” style. The plants we maintain in this style are apples, pears, apriums, wisteria, Rose of Sharon and pyracantha. The word “espalier” is French, and it comes from the Italian “spalliera,” meaning “something to rest the shoulder against.” The purpose is to save space and control the plant growth for the production of fruit. We prune and tie the branches to a frame, and set the frame flat against the wall. We prune ours for the ornamental aspect of it rather than fruit production. However, ours do flower and produce some fruit. Top photo: The Walled Garden, summer 2013. Inset photo: Parker Andes, Biltmore's director of horticulture.
“Miracle On The Hudson” Wins the 2014 Biltmore International Rose Trials Competition Posted on May 27, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux The second trial in the Biltmore International Rose Trials competition came to a close this past Saturday when an international jury selected the winning roses in 11 categories. “Miracle On The Hudson,” bred by Robert Neal Rippetoe in California, took the George & Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose. “Miracle” also took the top spot in three additional categories: the Chauncey Beadle Award for Best Shrub Rose; the William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit; and the Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant. Since 2011, Biltmore’s Rose Garden has been home to the trials in which more than 90 varieties from growers and breeders worldwide have been planted and cared for by Biltmore’s expert horticulturalists. Each trial lasts two years and a permanent jury judges the roses four times per year. During this year’s competition, the international and permanent juries conducted the final round of judging for the trial group of 29 roses planted in 2012. Before entering their roses into trials and competition, breeders work on their creations for four or five years prior. The roses judged this year were from Canada, France, Ireland, Germany, the UK and the U.S. Rose trials are a more common occurrence in Europe, with trials held in 20 different locations in 15 countries. New rose varieties will be planted for trials each May. They are evaluated for garden performance, fragrance, disease resistance and ability to be used in varying landscape situations. The next awards will be in 2015 for the trials planted in 2013 and will continue annually. Congratulations to all of the winners of the second annual Biltmore International Rose Trials! “Miracle On The Hudson,” bred by Neal Rippetoe of California, winner George & Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose Of The Trials (Best in Show); Chauncey Beadle Award for Best Shrub Rose; William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit; and Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant. Available through Roses Unlimited. Award of Excellence For Best Established Rose “Honorine de Brabant” Frederick Law Olmsted Award for Best Groundcover “Sweet Drift” bred by Meilland in France, distributed by Star Roses and Plants available at garden centers nationwide. Edith Wharton Award for Best Floribunda “Tequila Supreme” bred by Meilland in France, distributed by Star Roses and Plants available at garden centers nationwide. The Honorable John Cecil Award for Open Group “Pookah” – polyantha bred in California by James Delahanty and available through Burlington Rose Nursery in California. Gilded Age Award for Best Climber “Bajazzo” bred in Germany by Kordes, available through Roses Unlimited. Pauline Merrell Award for Best Hybrid Tea “Francis Meilland” bred by Meilland in France, distributed by Star Roses and Plants available in garden centers nationwide. Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil Award for Most Fragrant Rose “Munstead Wood” bred in the UK by David Austin Roses and available in the U.S. through David Austin Roses in Tyler, TX. Top photo: International Rose Trials jury member Susan V. Fox gets in close to enjoy the scent of “Bajazzo,” winner of Best Climber category.
Two ceremonies in two days: the Vanderbilt’s wedding Posted on May 14, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux In June 1898, George W. Vanderbilt and Edith Stuyvesant Dresser held their wedding in Paris on June 1 and June 2. Why two ceremonies? The first was a civil service and the second was a religious ceremony, in accordance with French law dating from the French Revolution. Popular opinion had assumed the wedding would be a grand affair, possibly at George Vanderbilt’s home church of Grace Episcopal Church in New York City. Despite the speculation, the couple decided to be wed in Paris with as little fanfare as possible—as possible for a Vanderbilt, that is. George and Edith were first married in a 15-minute civil ceremony at 3 p.m. on June 1, 1898 by the mayor of Paris at the Town Hall of the Eighth District in the Rue Anjou. According to one newspaper article, the couple had to comply with all the requirements of French law; the civil ceremony was complete with family witnesses, baptism certificates, the marriage certificate for George’s parents, and proof of American citizenship. The couple signed a contract of marriage. One newspaper described Edith’s dress at the civil ceremony; unfortunately, no photos are known to exist: “The dress worn by the bride to-day was a creation of Laferrière (a noted Parisian fashion designer). It was of café-au-lait crepon, over a lining of yellow silk. The skirt was cut out in a deep Vandyke edged with a fringe of white silk, which fell to the hem. Underneath the fringe, one caught occasional glimpses of yellow lining. The bodice had a rounded collar of mauve taffeta covered with guipure (a type of lace). The bride wore a white straw hat trimmed with pink roses.” At the end of the civil ceremony, George and Edith left the hall separately, as it would have been scandalous for them to be seen together before the church ceremony the following day. The religious ceremony was held at the American Church of the Holy Trinity in Paris at noon on June 2, attended by family and close friends. Before the ceremony began, George had to present their civil contract to the clergymen and sign the wedding register. An eyewitness account from the Philadelphia Record reports: ―It was a union of quiet contentment…There probably never was so unostentatious a Vanderbilt wedding since the family made its millions. It is true that the church was full of costumes and the company was very fine, but there was an altogether marked quietness of tone and an absence of display. Although there are no wedding photographs available, newspapers described the bride’s attire. Edith—a striking figure at six feet tall—wore an understated Empire-style gown in creamy white satin of French design, with a court train trimmed in the same lace worn by her grandmother nearly a century before. According to the Philadelphia Record, her veil was decorated with lace worn by her mother. Regarding the family lace, the New York Journal declared: “It is an admirable thing to have lace, and it is also an admirable thing to have ancestors, but when one can have both lace and ancestors it is most admirable.” After the ceremony, the wedding party, family and friends attended a breakfast at Edith’s apartment on Rue Vernet. Natalie Brown, Edith’s sister, provided two bottles of special champagne which their maternal grandfather had set aside at Edith’s birth, to be served on her wedding day. From there, the newlyweds left for Geneva by train to embark on a four-month European honeymoon.
Every wedding is personal for Inn’s floral designers Posted on May 6, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux We’ve been talking a lot about weddings lately. Mostly those that have happened in the distant past. Today we talk a bit about weddings that happen at Biltmore in the present tense. Did you know that this year alone, more than 200 weddings are scheduled for venues across Biltmore? Jodee Mitchell, Floral Designer at the Inn, and her team will have their hands in some of those events. “It’s so personal to us. We put a lot of emotion into it and want everything to be perfect. Many of the brides have been thinking about their perfect wedding since they were little girls, so it’s a huge, important day,” said Jodee. By the time a large wedding takes place, Jodee and her team have been in touch regularly with the bride for months. The process usually begins with booking the venue, often a year out. Fall weddings are especially popular and venues book up fast for this gorgeous season. Floral Designer Jill Rutherford said the initial meeting with the bride, and often her mother, is the most important. “We talk about décor, look at the venue, nail down the date, get a feel for budget, and listen to the bride’s ideas. We also offer our own ideas, things we know will suit the selected venue.” A flurry of emails are traded after that first meeting; the team offers more ideas and sends photos. Many brides create Pinterest boards to exchange ideas. After the details are ironed out, the team and the bride hold a final meeting where the team presents a mock set-up. Today’s décor is decidedly different from even a decade ago. Jill says many brides want more than flowers. “We often create display pieces, use fabric draping, and order signage and rental furniture,” she said. “We’ve even decorated a candy table for the reception! And theme weddings are very popular now. We always suggest that the bride selects a look that matches the venue to let it shine.” Most of the actual set-up for both large and small weddings happens within a week. Some of the preparation can include setting up frame systems to accommodate hanging items, creating arbors, putting the floral arrangements together, and painting things as needed. Jodee credits Biltmore’s engineering team for their professional and fast help. Everything that’s built must also be taken down, and she and her team do that too. “When we are at the actual wedding and see the bride we feel so proud of the work we’ve done to make their day exactly what they wanted and really magical. We take pride into our work. The whole team is equally excited about making each wedding look spectacular,” Jodee said.
Cornelia Vanderbilt’s Wedding: A Sweet Discovery Posted on April 29, 2014 at 12:00 am.Written by Kristina Smith Our Museum Services team made a sweet discovery related to Cornelia Vanderbilt’s wedding to the Honorable John F.A. Cecil on April 29, 1924. It’s a fascinating detail that was recently uncovered in an attic—a first for Biltmore—and the sweet discovery all started with a simple phone call. Fred Cothran proudly holds the keepsake cake from the Vanderbilt-Cecil wedding. A sweet discovery In 2014, Biltmore acquired a piece of cake for the Biltmore collection, which our curators confirm is the only edible artifact now housed in the archives. Cake? For the archives? Indeed. And even more of an enticing tidbit: we believe that it’s about to be 100 years old! Candler resident Frederick Cothran, then 96, found the cake in a trunk he inherited from his aunt, Bonnie Revis. Miss Revis was a cook at Biltmore House between 1924 and 1935. He contacted Biltmore’s museum services department to report that he had what he thought was a piece of cheese from Biltmore House. Not wasting any time, Laura Cope, Collections Manager, paid a visit to Cothran. “Food is personal. People bond over it, and it’s easy to relate to it on several levels,” she says, and that’s why she had to see the cheese for herself. Keepsake cake with monogram details. “CVC” for Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil and “JFAC” for John Francis Amherst Cecil. When she met Cothran he presented her with a neat and tiny box engraved “Biltmore House” on the top. Two sets of monograms are engraved on either side: “CSV” for Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt; and “JFAC” for John Francis Amherst Cecil. After getting back to Biltmore House, Laura researched the customs of the day and realized that this was more than likely cake rather than cheese. Then, upon hearing a recording of Paul Towe from Biltmore’s Oral History collection, she and her colleagues confirmed that this was indeed cake – fruit cake – that the Cecils gave out as favors on their special day. Mr. Towe recalled attending the wedding as a small boy. Towe’s father was employed at Biltmore in the 1920s and 1930s, and his sister, Sarah, was a flower girl in the wedding. Towe said that “everybody got a little white box with their name on it with a piece of fruit cake.” Charles Rauscher was a French confectioner and caterer, and his business, Maison Rauscher, was known as the ‘Delmonico’s of Washington’. The box top’s underside has a stamp on it, “Rauscher’s – Washington, D.C.” In her research, Laura learned that Rauscher’s catered and supplied many fine confectionaries and baked goods to society families in Washington, including the wedding cake for President Wilson in 1915. The tradition of wedding cake keepsakes can be traced back to Victorian times, typically sliced from the groom’s cake, which was often a fruit cake. Slices were wrapped and placed in tiny boxes to take home as a memento of the wedding. The belief was if an unmarried woman slept with a piece of the groom’s cake under her pillow, she would dream of her future husband. Prince William and Katherine Middleton carried out the tradition by sending pieces of boxed cake to commemorate their wedding in 2011. Cornelia Vanderbilt and John Cecil’s keepsake cake box has stood the test of time for a century. This 100-year-old piece of cake may be considered an odd addition to a collection that contains famous works of art, books, ancient tapestries and antiques. Historically speaking, that’s not the case. “This is a clear line connection between our day and their day, so it’s worth the effort to have it in our collection,” Laura said. Main photo: Guests at the wedding of Cornelia Vanderbilt and John Cecil enjoyed breakfast in the Biltmore House Winter Garden, April 29, 1924.