Markert is executive director of the 25-acre Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens in Northwest Washington. Whose estate is it?
It’s the estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post.
Who was she?
She was a businesswoman, philosopher and collector, and the only child of C.W. Post. In 1914 she inherited the Post company, which was a $20 million company. It grew and grew and later became General Foods and it was very successful.
What’s in the estate?
The mansion has really superior French 18th and 19th century decorative art and the best collection of Russian imperial art outside of Russia. There are 80 Faberge objects, including two Faberge eggs. It is a very opulent interior, and we have 16,000 objects in the collection. It’s very different from how we live now and it also gives you a sense of a lifestyle.
Where did the collection come from?
Mrs. Post was in Moscow at the same time Stalin was selling Russia’s patrimony, which was anything having to do with Russian royal family, the czars, or anything to do with the church.
What kind of visitors do you get?
We get 52,000 visitors a year. Most people say they are coming to see the collection. In addition, we have 13 acres of manicured gardens, including a Japanese style garden, a rose garden and a cut-flower garden.
Do you also have special exhibits?
This summer, we are having a wonderful exhibit called Wedding Bells, which will feature all the bridal fashions of the Post family weddings. Mrs. Post was married four times. We have all of her wedding dresses. She had three daughters and we have all of their wedding dresses. Overall we have 175 of her dresses and all of the accessories that went with them.
Susan Ferrechio
