Estate Find

Arthur Pope Watson, Jr.

and

Robert Garrett

The Chateau

Austin Texas

French Empire

Patinated Bronze and Ormolu

Six Light Chandelier

We offer a nineteenth century French Empire patinated bronze and ormolu six light chandelier. The chandelier is centered by an elegant inverted bottom finial with acanthus leaves and pierced ormolu palmettes. Branching out from the patinated bronze body are six arms. Foliate reeded candle cups sit atop eagle headed arms that terminate in scroll tailed winged Caryatids. Alternating arms are foliated with upturned trumpets. Three palmetto footed rods center a final and lead up to a central patinated bronze double tier decorated with tied swaging laurel garlands topped with acorn finials and a pierced band of anthemion.

The chandelier measures 21” in diameter and 31” in height.

The chandelier was acquired in France by Arthur Pope Watson, Jr. and Robert Garrett on one of their frequent shopping excursions to Europe and resided at The Chateau in Austin, Texas for many years.

The photographs include images of the chandelier when it was installed at the Chateau. A Christmas card sent by Arthur and Robert shows the chandelier decked with decorations.

Provenance

Arthur Pope Watson, Jr., F.A.I.D.,

Texan (1926-1993)

Robert Wayne Garrett, Texan

(1930-2021)

Watson and Associates Interior Designers was the premiere interior design firm in Texas from the 1940s-1990s.

Arthur Watson was the Texas version of Sister Parish, both of whom who would determine if a client’s old money and family status were worthy of their services. Arthur was from old Austin families and he would brag how he inherited three different family legacies and spent every dime.

In 1948, Arthur was State President of the Texas chapter of American Institute of Decorators later honored as a Fellow. He graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York in 1950 and studied in France and Italy. He worked with the Historical Society in restoring Neill-Cochran House and the D.A.R. State Headquarters. Watson Associates' best-known works include The University of Texas System's Bauer House, The Littlefield Home, the Regent's Room, the Faculty Center, the Driskill Club, the restoration of the Neill-Cochran House, and UT’s Lila B. Etter Alumni Center, and several other projects for The University.

Frank Erwin, Jr. (1929-1980) was chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents and oversaw extensive building projects on the campus. He was also Arthur’s fraternity brother. When Arthur designed the Regent’s Boardroom, he made note he designed it “like Versailles… it was meant to last forever”. There were some raised eyebrows on the $2,500.00 spent for each Regent’s chair and a sofa so large that it had to enter the building by a rooftop crane after removing a window on the top floor. After Frank Erwin’s passing, The University of Texas quietly instituted a bidding process for future furnishings…

Arthur and Robert designed many of the most stunning and unique homes and ranches in and around Austin.

Their home together for thirty years, The Chateau, at 500 East 18th Street was the address for legendary parties and gatherings. The Chateau was built in 1853 by Margaret Francis Neville Bowie, widow of Rezin Pleasant Bowie, Jr. inventor of the famous hunting Bowie Knife, and brother of James "Jim" Bowie, who died at the Alamo. Famous residents included an Austin suffragette and also a Texas Governor’s paramour. Acquired in 1959 by Arthur and Robert, it was their home until his passing in 1993. Robert left in 2009 after fifty years of residency.