History

Government House

Main Floor - Salon II

The centre drawing room, now known as Salon II, was the Breakfast Room when the House was built, with a door (now closed) into the main hallway. It is now used as one of three adjoining salons along the west side of the official residence, where guests are entertained when visiting Government House.

Recently, the blue carpets that covered all three salons were lifted to find original wood floors.

• Tall Curio Cabinet - Matches the rectangular table in Salon I. The glass is curved and beveled and is the original. The base of the cabinet is bombe - a French term meaning "curving out".

• Settee - circa 1900. Empire design relating to the Napoleonic period. It is mahogany and might have come from England, although this type of settee was also manufactured in United States. Original covering was black leather over stuffing of horsehair.

• Set of Curio Cabinet, Round Table and Chair - circa 1900. Finish is not the original. Original finish might have been gilt. Glass on the cabinet is bevelled. Curio Cabinet is currently in Salon I.

• Antique Sofa - Donated to Government House in 1992 by Mr. and Mrs. C. Kellett Holden of Winnipeg. The Holden family arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1638 and spread through State of New York. In 1830, Charles Holden (great grandfather of C. Kellett Holden), a carriage-maker by trade, emigrated to Merrickville, Ontario. The sofa was handcrafted in 1832 for his wife, Tamar Sabrina Welton. It was passed on to Mr. Holden in 1934 and was refinished and reupholstered in 1947.

• Crystal Jardiniere - Donated to Government House in 1992 by Miss Phyllis Miller (and two grandsons - Gordon and Douglass Miller) of Vancouver, B.C., in memory of her parents and their grandparents, Jabez and Mary Miller. Jabez Miller came to Winnipeg in 1882 with D. R. Dingwall, founder of Dingwall Jewellers. The company later amalgamated with Birks. The jardiniere was cut by the Gundy Clapperton Company of Toronto sometime between 1905 and 1920, and was presented to Mr. Miller on his 40th anniversary with the company.

• Pair of Arm Chairs - Early Victorian - circa 1840 - mahogany, hand-carved. The red moire fabric covering these magnificent chairs is reminiscent of the original oriental silk used at that time.

• Table with Drop Leaves - circa 1900 - Sheraton design from England. Mahogany with satin wood inlay.

• Games Table - circa 1910-15 - oak and a typical English design.

• Small Wing Chair - circa 1910-15 - mahogany and copy of a French design of the Louis XV period.

• Coffee Table - Chinese Chippendale.