SPNEA’s Lyman Estate, The Vale, in Waltham, Massachusetts, provides a beautiful historic setting for weddings, corporate meetings, social events, and film and photo shoots. With over 10,000 visitors a year, it is one of SPNEA’s most familiar properties. Because The Vale serves as a function house and is not a museum, many of its furnishings are reproductions that can sustain regular use. Frequently, the furniture, fabrics, wallpaper, and decorative accessories that add so much to the historic ambience are reproductions from SPNEA’s Historic New England collection, which fit seamlessly into the mansion designed for Theodore Lyman by Samuel McIntire in 1793.

Two bedrooms have recently been refurbished with a large number of Historic New England pieces. The Bride’s Room features a Federal High Post Bed, Portsmouth Chest, Codman Gallery Table, Acanthus Leaf Sofa Table, and a pair of Newport Wing Chairs, all produced by Southwood Furniture Corporation from originals in SPNEA’s collection. Hamilton Dimity, a reproduction fabric by Brunschwig & Fils, forms the bed dust ruffle, and colorful glass bowls and candlesticks by Pairpoint Crystal accessorize this inviting room. The Groom’s Room has been enlivened with Cathay Toile by Brunschwig & Fils, a reproduction wallpaper from SPNEA’s extensive collection of documentary wall coverings, and two Governor Langdon Chairs by Southwood. Other rooms showcase additional reproduction wallpapers, decorative accessories, and a variety of furniture pieces including a Codman Library Chair, a Bellflower Pembroke Table, a Hamilton Demi-Lune Table, an Adam Console, an Edwardian Settee, and a pair of Edwardian Arm-chairs.

If you are interested in viewing the reproductions at the Lyman Estate, call (781) 891-4882 to arrange a convenient time. For more information about the Historic New England collection, call (617) 570-9105, ext. 232.

—Carol Bruce
Director, Licensing & Merchandising