Gardens

Inside Bunny Mellon’s Oak Spring Farm Estate

Take a look inside the private estate of the late horticulturist and philanthropist in Upperville, Virginia.

October 23, 2014

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Oak Spring Farm in Upperville, Virginia.

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Oak Spring Farm in Upperville, Virginia.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

The estate includes three primary residences and more than twenty cottages.

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The estate includes three primary residences and more than twenty cottages.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A cast metal ground hog and rabbit perch atop the garden gate.

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A cast metal ground hog and rabbit perch atop the garden gate.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A cast metal ground hog by Jane Sage Canfield.

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A cast metal ground hog by Jane Sage Canfield.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A cast metal rabbit by Jane Sage Canfield.

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A cast metal rabbit by Jane Sage Canfield.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A pergola of crab apple trees.

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A pergola of crab apple trees.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

The main house's entrance hall.

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The main house’s entrance hall.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A group of vintage walking sticks.

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A group of vintage walking sticks.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

Part of Mellon's basket collection.

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Part of Mellon’s basket collection.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

Part of Mellon's basket collection.

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Part of Mellon’s basket collection.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

Found in paintings, drawings, and ceramics, vegetables are a common motif in Mellon's pieces.

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Found in paintings, drawings, and ceramics, vegetables are a common motif in Mellon’s pieces.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

An entry way.

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An entry way.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

As Mellon once said of her vision for Oak Spring: “Nothing should stand out. It all should give the feeling of calm. When you go away, you should remember only the peace.”

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As Mellon once said of her vision for Oak Spring: “Nothing should stand out. It all should give the feeling of calm. When you go away, you should remember only the peace.”

Courtesy of Sotheby's

One of Mellon's gardens.

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One of Mellon’s gardens.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A stenciled still life of watermelon, 1839 (top); a group of three earthenware American jugs, nineteenth-century.

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A stenciled still life of watermelon, 1839 (top); a group of three earthenware American jugs, nineteenth-century.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

English cut-glass decanters on display.

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English cut-glass decanters on display.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A game room.

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A game room.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A rare Meissen "sea life" chess set, circa 1924-34.

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A rare Meissen “sea life” chess set, circa 1924-34.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A George III-style cream-painted standing bookcase, which houses some of Mellon's ceramic collections.

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A George III-style cream-painted standing bookcase, which houses some of Mellon’s ceramic collections.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A few of Mellon's ceramic asparagus tureens and covers.

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A few of Mellon’s ceramic asparagus tureens and covers.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

Jacob Petit lettuce form boxes and covers from the mid-nineteenth century.

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Jacob Petit lettuce form boxes and covers from the mid-nineteenth century.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A group of English yellowware, nineteenth-century

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A group of English yellowware, nineteenth-century

Courtesy of Sotheby's

An assorted group of embroidered table linens.

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An assorted group of embroidered table linens.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

Two Louis XVI mahogany cellaretts in the game room.

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Two Louis XVI mahogany cellaretts in the game room.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

Eighteenth-century punch bowls with a hunting motif.

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Eighteenth-century punch bowls with a hunting motif.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

'Queen Charlotte' pattern dessert service (circa 1770-1820).

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‘Queen Charlotte’ pattern dessert service (circa 1770-1820).

Courtesy of Sotheby's

An English silver-gilt owl-form condiment set, Tiffany and Co., 1958.

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An English silver-gilt owl-form condiment set, Tiffany and Co., 1958.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A George II mahogany two-tier dumbwaiter with Mellon's signature herb topiaries.

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A George II mahogany two-tier dumbwaiter with Mellon’s signature herb topiaries.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A garden path.

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A garden path.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

The stables.

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The stables.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A view of the rolling hills on Mellon's Virginia estate.

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A view of the rolling hills on Mellon’s Virginia estate.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

A cottage kitchen on the property.

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A cottage kitchen on the property.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

The exterior of Mellon's residence at Oak Spring.

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The exterior of Mellon’s residence at Oak Spring.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon.

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Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

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