Henry Davis Sleeper
Henry Davis Sleeper (* 1878 ; † 1934 ) was an American art collector, designer and interior designer .
Born into a wealthy Boston family of real estate agents - his grandfather Jacob Sleeper (1809–1889) was one of the three founders of Boston University - the ailing son was educated by private tutors and his interest in design and art history was discovered early on.
The Sleeper-McCann House in Gloucester on Cape Ann in Massachusetts , begun in 1907, was originally only planned as a summer residence, but the building, which is located on a rocky knoll above the harbor, was continuously expanded and converted until the owner's death. The designs - which were implemented by the architect Halfdan M. Hanson - and the furnishings came from Sleeper himself, who had made it his life's work to collect and display cultural assets from the colonial era and the years of the struggle for independence. During the builder's lifetime, the summer house looked more like a museum.
In addition to the Sleeper-McCann House, only one other work in its original state has survived today: the Bratenahl House in Gloucester, for which Sleeper designed the paneling , furniture and decoration. All other work has meanwhile been changed - in some cases considerably:
- The Highlands ( Fort Washington , Pennsylvania ) - for Caroline Sinkler, now open as a museum
- Thomas House ( Middleburg , Virginia , 1912/5) - together with Halfdan M. Hanson and Henry C. Mercer
- Houndsmore Lodge / Morrill House (Gloucester, Massachusetts, 1920)
- Bruce E. Merriman House ( Providence , Rhode Island , 1923)
- Mabel Yates Howe House (West Manchester, Massachusetts, 1924)
- F. Frazier Jelke House ( Eagle's Nest , Newport , Rhode Island, 1924)
- Davenport House / Paul Hollister House ( New Rochelle , New York , 1930)
- George F. Tyler House ( Indian Council Rock , Newtown , Pennsylvania, 1932)
- Johnny Mack Brown House ( Nine Gables , Hollywood , California , 1930)
- Frederic March House ( Beverly Hills , California, 1934)
Henry Davis Sleeper was a member of the Dabsville colony, a society of intellectuals that emerged among the owners of cottages in Gloucester in the first third of the 20th century.
A few months before his death in 1934, the American Institute of Architects made him one of only six honorary members to date.
Web links
- Description of the Sleeper McCann House (PDF file; 766 kB)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Sleeper, Henry Davis |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American art collector, designer, and interior designer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1878 |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1934 |