Annual McCallum Theatre Auction

My grandmother Hazel loved the sparkle of carnival glass and had a large collection of it. She also loved her flowers, something that she got from her mother Mary.

Mary grew up on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, but below stairs. Her mother cooked for the Vanderbilt family and her father Dinker helped develop the vines that grow the wines you can buy today from the Biltmore Winery. As Mary was nearly the same age as the Vanderbilt's daughter Cornelia, Mary and Cornelia spent plenty of time together on the estate. Since Mrs. Vanderbilt (Edith) was described as “plain as an old shoe” who was known for plopping down to have a bite of cake in the kitchens of the people in the estate community, this odd family story makes sense.

This flowered vase reminds me of my grandmother and the impression that the Biltmore Estate made on my family.

Donated by Anna Hanks, Austin, Texas

Value: $100.00