Derby Summer House, Historic garden house in Danvers, United States
The Derby Summer House is a Federal-style garden pavilion measuring roughly 20 feet square and ornamented with decorative pilasters, draped swags, and Grecian urns. Wooden statues of a Reaper and Shepherdess crown the roofline of this small but carefully detailed structure.
Built in 1794 by architect Samuel McIntire for merchant Elias Hasket Derby, the structure emerged during a period when shipping routes to China were transforming American wealth and taste. The house served as a retreat that displayed the merchant's prosperity and cultural refinement.
The upper floor room displayed Chinese-inspired decorations and overlooked the surrounding grounds, showing how early American merchants celebrated their trading connections to Asia. This interior design choice reflected the fashion among wealthy families of that era to showcase their global influence and refined taste.
The structure is located at Glen Magna Farms and can be seen through guided tours arranged by the Danvers Historical Society. Visitors should plan ahead since access is limited and tours are offered on a scheduled basis.
The wooden roof statues rank among the earliest American sculptures, with the original Shepherdess figure now housed at the Peabody Institute. This shift reveals how the artwork's legacy was valued and preserved in institutions beyond the house itself.
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