On Monday, May 2, 2022, the Met Gala, formally known as the Costume Institute Benefit and casually dubbed "the Oscars of the East Coast," returns to its traditional date of the first Monday in May after being cancelled in 2020 and held in a scaled-down version in September 2021. This year's theme is "gilded glamour and white tie," which has fashion critic Vanessa Friedman speculating, “Think gold, corsets, bustles, and big sleeves.”
Ms. Friedman's guess comes from fashions that were popular during the Gilded Age. The phrase refers to a time of rapid economic growth in the United States, roughly between 1870 and 1900, when the growth of industries like railroad, finance, factories, and mining allowed some men to get rich very quickly. During this time, the industry tycoons built mansions along Fifth Avenue and throughout New York's richest neighborhoods, many trying to outdo each other in terms of size and ornamentation.
In this article:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, home of tonight's Met Gala (Corcoran)
In the present day, some have speculated that the stark social inequality between the fabulously wealthy and everyone else has us experiencing a new Gilded Age. It remains to be seen if that is in fact the case, but we can say for certain that this time period remains a source of fascination. Edith Wharton’s classic, Gilded Age-set novels like Pulitzer Prize-winner The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth are still beloved today, as are best-selling historical romances by Maya Rodale and Joanna Shupe. Onscreen, HBO Max drama The Gilded Age was a hit when it premiered in January 2022 (with many speculating about which historical figures inspired the fictional characters), and was quickly renewed for a second season.
Finally, influences of this time period can still be felt by walking down certain streets of New York. Thanks to this New York City building boom, we are graced with a plethora of exquisitely crafted buildings, inside and out. Unfortunately, due to many short-sighted landlords and owners, irreplaceable details have been ripped out to adapt to modern and often ephemeral trends.
However, smart owners understand that this type of artistry is becoming increasingly rare and expensive, as there are a limited number of artisans who can create these details. As such, they have preserved and sometimes restored their incredible interior spaces. Many homes also show that these timeless details can be beautifully paired with contemporary furnishings and fittings.
The entrance of The Dorilton, one of the city's most beautiful Gilded Age-era apartment houses
10 East 62nd Street, #12 (Compass)
From the Listing: A little piece of Versailles in NYC! Landmarked spectacular palatial Mansion located on a beautiful tree-lined quiet upper eastside Manhattan street. This grand and distinct triplex residence features 4 large bedrooms, 4 full baths and 2 lavish powder rooms. See floor plan and full details here.
The Sherry Netherland, #313 (Compass)
From the Listing: NEW PRICE: NOW ASKS $599,000!
Wonderful opportunity to own an elegant hotel apartment at the world-famous Sherry Netherland at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue. Pied-a-Terre permitted. Live in a quiet, large, peaceful apartment in a high security building.
See floor plan and full details here.
438 West 162nd Street, #TOWNHOUSE (Brown Harris Stevens)
From the Listing: Located on one of the most charming, architecturally beautiful blocks in the coveted Jumel Terrace Historic District, 438 West 162nd Street presents a fusion of a modern renovation and original period details creating a space for beautiful living. Measuring 19.5 feet wide encompassing over 4,000 square feet of space plus a 1,000-square-foot private south facing garden. This bayed limestone was originally Designed by Henry Fouchaux and built in 1896, displays both Romanesque Revival and Classical. See floor plan and full details here.
The Osborne, #2CADA (Douglas Elliman)
From the Listing: Welcome to The Osborne, impeccably and lovingly maintained since 1885. This exquisitely renovated two-bedroom, two en-suite bathroom masterpiece is truly one of a kind. Every single inch of this home has been thoughtfully created to the most exacting standards. This museum-quality home is truly a work of art. See floor plan and full details here.
23 Park Avenue, #2C (Compass)
From the Listing: In contract. Breathtaking, unique and rare Stanford White designed townhouse duplex. The double height great room has 15-foot ceilings, the original paneling, deeply coffered ceiling and monumental fireplace. This ’Grand Salon’ is punctuated with beams of soft light filtering through towering leaded and stained-glass windows and is complimented by the mezzanine level library perched high above. See floor plan and full details here.
325 Convent Avenue (Compass)
From the Listing: This charming 20 foot wide five story brownstone situated in Hamilton Heights, designed by architect Adolph Hoak in 1890, is truly a one of a kind single-family home. Each floor features unique period details that are truly a work of art. With approximately 4,500 square feet, this home has five bedrooms and five bathrooms. Bring your contractor and turn this mansion into the home of your dreams!
See floor plan and full details here.
Fred Leighton Building, #7W (Sotheby's International Realy)
From the Listing: The perfect combination of old New York grandeur and comfortable elegance, this gracious and grand seven-room prewar apartment is situated in the most coveted Upper East Side location in one of the most sought after and significant historical buildings in the city. With soaring 10.5 foot ceilings, this stylish and chic 3-4 bedroom home is bathed in sunlight all day long from 13 windows spanning west and north. See floor plan and full details here.
116 West 118th Street, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: 116 West 118th Street is a spectacular and rare 20 foot wide townhouse in the landmarked Mount Morris Park historic district. Located on a brownstone block, this stately home is in excellent condition and large at 6,500 square feet. It was built in 1900 and fully renovated in 2013. Most townhouses in Harlem are 18 feet wide or less, finding a home a full two feet wider, which also has original details is rare. This gracious home consists of a homeowner's 3,240 square-foot triplex and a garden apartment. See floor plan and full details here.
Astor Court, #2B (Sotheby's International Realty)
From the Listing: This transcendent property is a tour-de-force in meticulous design and craftsmanship. This chic yet inviting Classic 7 home at the iconic Astor Court has been skillfully renovated by Gramercy Design - seamlessly integrating modern conveniences whilst restoring the apartment's pre-war charm. See floor plan and full details here.
210 West 122nd Street, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: Imagine walking through the streets of old-school Neo-Italian and Georgian Townhouses. A gentle breeze flows through the vents of your coat as leaves dance around your feet, tumbling and playing. The sounds of Ella Fitzgerald can be heard playing softly and you are getting ready to enjoy a sip of fine espresso. These sounds, aromas, and architecture welcome you as you arrive at 210 West 122 Street. At this junction you find a glorious luxury space that is interlaced and infused with history everywhere you look. See floor plan and full details here.
396 Washington Avenue, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: Built in 1887 by architect Adam E. Fischer, 396 Washington Avenue is a rare Clinton Hill mansion with 32 feet of frontage and parking for three cars. This sprawling Queen Anne style townhouse was built for William H. Mairs, who was the largest manufacturer of wallpaper in the United States. The original facade, which was meticulously crafted from terracotta, brick, and brownstone, is fully intact. Inside, many original Gilded Age architectural details have been restored. See floor plan and full details here.
The Dorilton, #87B (Brown Harris Stevens)
From the Listing: Dream of living in a townhouse with all the services of a luxury building?
One-of-a kind home in a one-of-a kind building. This magnificent eleven room duplex in the famed Beaux-Arts Dorilton offers sprawling proportions and grand living with turn of the century details, high ceilings, french doors, inlaid wood floors, juliet balconies, stained glass windows and four fireplaces. Rarely does a home like this become available. See floor plan and full details here.
One-of-a kind home in a one-of-a kind building. This magnificent eleven room duplex in the famed Beaux-Arts Dorilton offers sprawling proportions and grand living with turn of the century details, high ceilings, french doors, inlaid wood floors, juliet balconies, stained glass windows and four fireplaces. Rarely does a home like this become available. See floor plan and full details here.
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The Corner House, #TH (Brown Harris Stevens)
From the Listing: Following the lead of McKim, Mead & White, this house was built in 1890 in the neo-Renaissance Revival style by architect Frank Hill Smith for John Dwight. It was erected during The Gilded Age (from 1875 to 1900 or 1910), and financed by his baking soda empire, Arm and Hammer. This product dominated the market from 1873 onward and is still popular today. Frank Hill Smith was also a painter who collaborated with William Morris Hunt in the 1880s, which may account for his preoccupation with interior design and color, which is reflected in the house we see today. See floor plan and full details here.
The Plaza, #PH2040 (Brown Harris Stevens)
From the Listing: This is a stunning trophy property and an incredible opportunity to own a piece of New York City History in the Iconic Plaza Hotel! Formerly The Hardenbergh Suite, and now renamed The Grand Penthouse Suite, this palatial duplex offers breathtaking views of Central Park and the New York City skyline. Exquisitely furnished in classic Louis XV style, the breathtaking Grand Penthouse suite is over 2,100 square feet (195 square meter) with a 540-square-foot (50 square meter) terrace off the primary bedroom. See floor plan and full details here.
From the Listing: A rare opportunity to own a masterpiece in the Dakota, the Upper West Side’s most iconic luxury building. This 3,800-square-foot home has been meticulously restored to showcase its historic character and detail while, at the same time, a mint renovation provided all modern updates and conveniences. The apartment is entered through an elegant and intimate foyer which leads to the grand entertaining spaces: a large formal living room with treetop views of 72nd Street and a library with a custom built-in bar. See floor plan and full details here.
455 West 24th Street, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: Set behind a rare and beautifully planted front garden, a historic stoop leads one up into the impeccably preserved interiors of this 21-foot wide, Greek Revival single-family townhouse with an elevator that services every floor. This home remained in the same family for more than 100 years; the current owners are only the third titleholders.
See floor plan and full details here.
The Apthorp, #2LM (Serhant)
From the Listing: Palatial Renovated Designer Condo at The Apthorp Welcome to one-of-a-kind luxury living in this exquisite Apthorp condo on the Upper West Side, a sprawling 6-bedroom, 7-bathroom home that blends Gilded Age refinement with contemporary technology, craftsmanship, and design. Every inch of this 6,110-square-foot apartment was updated and transformed by an experienced design team from Elias Associates and Fernando Papale of BP Architects. See floor plan and full details here.
243 East 17th Street, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: Beckoning the bygone era of the Gilded Age in New York, this exceptional 28-foot-wide, elevator townhome sits perfectly positioned with a centerline view over Stuyvesant Square Park. Beautifully renovated in 2019, this stately home with gracious proportions features a three-bay facade, round-arched doors and windows, a lovely foliate patterned cast-iron balcony that runs the width of the edifice, and a paneled cornice. Totaling nearly 8,500sf with additional FAR, the five-story was originally built in the 1850s and currently has 6 bedrooms and 5 baths, and 2 powder rooms. It is the only Anglo-Italianate house in the district that was not originally part of a row of narrow, uniform houses. See floor plan and full details here.
111 West 57th Street, #PH20 (Corcoran)
While the interiors at 111 West 57th Street are new and take on Art Deco inspiration, its reimagined Steinway Building is from the City Beautiful era
From the Listing: Offering Immediate Occupancy! The Landmark Penthouse atop 111 West 57th Street's iconic Steinway Hall provides an unparalleled opportunity for one who enjoys entertaining on a grandiose scale. The duplex Penthouse offers three bedrooms, and four-and-a-half bathrooms within 5,269 square feet of interior space, accentuated by 3,788 square feet of exterior space. Originally designed by Warren & Wetmore and completed in 1925, Steinway Hall has been reimagined by SHoP Architects and Studio Sofield, who have curated a boutique collection of residences while paying homage to the distinct, original architectural design See floor plan and full details here.
834 Fifth Avenue, #7B (Corcoran)
From the Listing: This impressive triple-mint residence in one of Rosario Candela's most prestigious prewar cooperatives enjoys spectacular views of Central Park and the city's skyline with 90 feet of frontage on Fifth Avenue. The sun-flooded rooms with over 11-foot ceilings are perfectly suited to gracious living and grand-scale entertaining. See floor plan and full details here.
2 East 82nd Street, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: 2 East 82nd Street is an ideal property for a single-family mansion conversion, with an impressive 25-foot-wide Neo-Georgian white limestone and brick facade mansion originally designed by Schickel & Ditmars in 1901. See floor plan and full details here.
14 East 69th Street, #TH (Sotheby's International Realty)
From the Listing: MOTIVATED Seller
-30' wide Rare French Renaissance Mansion, Limestone and Brick off Fifth Avenue. Completed in 1893 as a single family home for Josephine and William Buchanan, designed by Lansing C. Holden.
This Gilded Age masterpiece stretches 30' wide by 102' deep, 6 levels including basement with a total of 5 floors. See floor plan and full details here.
9 East 88th Street, #TH (Sotheby's International Realty)
From the Listing: A magnificent 26 foot wide Beaux-Arts mansion, 9 East 88th Street is situated on a charming tree-lined street just off Fifth Avenue, in the southern portion of the Carnegie Hill Historic District. Noted Gilded Age architects James R. Turner and William G. Killian in 1902-1903 designed this handsome residence with unparalleled grandeur, size and the lavish detail typical of the era. The house has remained a single family since that time. The house underwent interior alterations in 1912-1913 by the young, but soon-to-be renowned American architect, John Russell Pope, who later designed the National Gallery of Art and the Jefferson Memorial. Pope was commissioned by Vivian Straus Sheftel, a daughter of Isidor and Ida Straus.
See floor plan and full details here.
991 Fifth Avenue, #TH (Brown Harris Stevens)
From the Listing: ONE FOR THE AGES
Many buyers find a townhouse to be the most exquisite form of city living - so much space, utterly self-contained, flexible renovation options, with private outdoor spaces that can span an entire roof top, rear gardens and elegant terraces. See floor plan and full details here.
Many buyers find a townhouse to be the most exquisite form of city living - so much space, utterly self-contained, flexible renovation options, with private outdoor spaces that can span an entire roof top, rear gardens and elegant terraces. See floor plan and full details here.
8 East 82nd Street, #HOUSE (The Modlin Group)
From the Listing: Originally constructed in 1903 by John H. Duncan (the legendary architect of Grants Tomb) in Beaux-Arts Style, this approximately 14,825 square-foot six-story limestone mansion sits on what is now one of Manhattan most elite residential blocks. William T. Georgis, one of the world's best, and most glamourous, architects and designers, was enlisted by the current owners to bring back what Architectural Digest calls the home's Gilded Age Splendor. The sprawling grand entrance features a massive carved mantel over a wood-burning fireplace and original malachite and mosaic floors that were discovered and restored during the three-year top-to-bottom renovation. See floor plan and full details here.
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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