Tiffany in St. Augustine, Florida
An historic hotel with fabulous Tiffany windows and furniture
The Ponce de Leon Hotel is now the Flagler College and the students love talking about its history and showing people around.
The white concrete and coquina building of the Flagler College with its red tiled roof and turrets looks rather Spanish. When it was constructed in 1887 the Mediterranean Revival style was coming into fashion in the United States, especially in Florida.
Inside it is every bit as exotic as the exterior promises.
The Rotunda
The Rotunda, or lobby as it was once called, is 80ft high with fantastic carved oak caryatids. These are columns in the form of women, irreverently nicknamed "the pregnant ladies" by students. The dome is white with 22ct. gold leaf decoration. Looking down on the people milling about below are cherubs which decorate the wooden gallery balustrade.
The Dining Room
This is the room that all visitors really want to see. They also envy the students who have the privilege of having their meals in there.
On either side the room curves out in semi-circles. Their ceilings are saucer domes and the windows are by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The windows have delicate tracery with blocks of yellow circles looking just like plenty of suns. Other Tiffany windows in the room are demi-lunes (half moon shaped) each with an urn displaying great orange leaves which give the impressions of flames.
The main part of the room has barrel vaulted ceilings with allegorical murals (by George W. Maynard) of some weird and wonderful sea creatures, curlicues and other devices. At the corners of some walls are galleons in full sail. Above some intricately carved woodwork arches curve mint green panels decorated with gold leaf. Other carved woodwork includes two minstrels' galleries.
As well as the Tiffany windows there are also some dining chairs by the Master which have leather seats and carved backs. The remainder of the chairs in the room are copies.
The Grand Parlor
In here are some comfortable chairs, tables and paintings, including one of Henry Flagler, the entrepreneur who built the hotel.
The central section of the room is predominantly blue and white with crystal chandeliers. Yet more work by Tiffany. Another great American is also represented in this room: the clock over the mantelpiece was made by Thomas Alva Edison.
Flagler College is on King Street, one of the main roads into St. Augustine. During term time there are tours at 10.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. During the summer and winter breaks, tours are all day.
Admission: Adults $6 and children under 12 yrs. $1.
Tickets are available at the college up to 15 minutes prior to the tour. Alternatively they can be purchased at Flagler's Legacy, 59 Saint George Street.
Across King Street from Flagler College is the Lightner Museum which has a beautiful collection of Tiffany artifacts.
Cordova Street is on one side of the Lightner Museum and a short walk down there is the peaceful corner known as the Old St. Augustine Village.
The largest collection of Tiffany ware in Florida can be seen at the Morse Museum in Winter Park, near Orlando.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
