Museum
Frederic Bartlett’s professional association with some of America’s greatest
architects nurtured a personal interest in the craft that was made manifest in
his design of Bonnet House. From the beginning, Bartlett had a very clear
notion of what Bonnet House should be—a seaside retreat, conducive to creativity
but lacking the opulence and formality that characterized the mansions of Palm
Beach. Bartlett rejected Addison Mizner’s popular Spanish-style architecture
and instead designed Bonnet House as his interpretation of a Caribbean
plantation. He very much believed that Bonnet House should be inclusive and
complimentary to its subtropical environment and created a design that included
numerous indoor and outdoor living spaces.
The whimsical ambience of Bonnet House is a product of the creative synergy
that existed between Frederic and his wife Evelyn and the happiness and comfort
they experienced in one another. Though the strictest preservation standards
are practiced, the house still feels as if the owners had just stepped out. All
the furnishings and ephemera on exhibit are original to the estate. Items of
particular importance include a rare set of Davenport dessert plates made in
Staffordshire, England, an impressive and large collection of Spode china in the
highly sought-after Indian Sporting pattern, and an exceptional veiled
bust by the Italian sculptor, G.B. Lombardi.
