NOW ON VIEW
A Canton rose medallion covered tureen with stand
Chinese Export Porcelain Returns to Chateau-sur-Mer
Visitors to Chateau-sur-Mer can now see something that’s been missing from the house for more than 50 years: a collection of approximately 70 pieces of Chinese export porcelain from the late 18th or early 19th centuries, brought back from Canton by William Shepard Wetmore during his time as a merchant in China.
The collection includes dishes and plates of all sizes, platters, covered tureens and bowls, a tea set, bulb pots, vases and more.
Wetmore kept these beautiful pieces at Chateau-sur-Mer, his Newport home, and there they stayed until 1969, when they were sold at auction along with a majority of the house’s contents. The buyer of the porcelains was tobacco heiress Doris Duke, who kept them at Rough Point, her home down Bellevue Avenue.
This past December, the Newport Restoration Foundation, which owns and operates Rough Point for tours, transferred these precious pieces to the Preservation Society free of charge. They once again display their vibrant colors in their original place, the Chateau-sur-Mer pantry. We are deeply grateful to our friends at NRF for their generosity.
Come visit Chateau-sur-Mer, a National Historic Landmark and a true treasure chest of Victorian antiques, open daily now through September 1!
UPCOMING EVENT
The Newport Flower Show: “A Floral Fair”
June 20 – 22, 2025
Opening Night Party: Friday, June 20, 2025 at 6 pm
Tickets: $45 Non-Member; $35 Member | $275 Non-Member Opening Night Party; $250 Member Opening Night Party
Inside the elegant rooms of Rosecliff, guests will be transported back to the Gilded Age, honoring the legacy of Theresa Fair Oelrichs, the mansion’s original owner. Exhibitors in Floral Design and Botanical Arts will draw inspiration from her 1913 fairy tale-themed dinner, creating captivating displays of imagination and elegance. Adding a fun twist, the first floor will also bloom with playful arrangements reminiscent of a cheerful summer county fair.
The festivities continue outdoors on Rosecliff’s rear terrace and lawn overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the Horticulture Division and Garden Displays will bring the themes to life with competitions of delightful plants, vibrant cut flowers and inspiring displays crafted by skilled amateur gardeners and local garden clubs.
After soaking in the floral splendor, don’t forget to visit the Marketplace for some well-deserved retail therapy! From the ever-popular Newport Mansions Stores to carefully selected vendors offering unique treasures, there’s something for everyone.
To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
NEWS
We are proud to announce that The Celestial City: Newport and China, groundbreaking exhibition at Rosecliff from September 2023 to February 2024, has been honored by the American Association for State and Local History with its Award of Excellence.
The exhibition and accompanying programming shed light on a little-known aspect of Newport’s history: the contributions of Chinese and Chinese American individuals to life in Newport from the 18th century through the Gilded Age.
This prestigious award is a tribute to the thorough and thoughtful work of our Curator of Collections, Dr. Nicole Williams, and staff researchers who uncovered information and stories that had been untold for decades. Bravo!
To learn more about this exhibition, click here.
The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island, is a nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes, decorative arts and social history. Its 11 historic properties – seven of them National Historic Landmarks–span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.
