This Museum Exhibition Celebrates Garden Follies
Bristol Summerhouse Folly
Located atop Sycamore Hill and presenting sweeping vistas of the property, this summerhouse was recreated by du Pont in the 1960s based on a structure he had seen at The Lindens in Bristol, Rhode Island.
Brick Lookout Folly
This little building is an example of how du Pont repurposed architectural elements. It once served as a shed at the entrance court for the museum in the 1940s and 1950s. When a new brick folly was built in the 1960s and placed on Sycamore Hill, the shed’s tin roof and cast iron eagle were moved to cap the structure.
Mirrored Folly
This mirror-clad building reflects the surrounding Pinetum and is inspired by the porte coche?re (covered entrance) of Winterthur’s historic train station.
Neoclassical Folly
This structure is modeled after the portico of a Greek temple or public building - a common design in garden architecture. The formality of the structure contrasts sharply with Winterthur’s meadow all around it.
1750 House Folly
Du Pont relocated the fac?ade of this historic house from New Castle, Delaware, to Winterthur in the 1960s.
Chinese Pavilion Folly
This structure is inspired by the Chinese House at Stowe Landscape Garden in Buckinghamshire, England. Stowe’s Chinese House is an example of the 18th-century fascination with Chinese objects and ornament. The illustrations on the exterior are selections taken from the wallpaper in Winterthur's Chinese Parlor, which visitors can see on a tour of the house.
Ottoman Tent Folly
This folly is an interpretation of a Turkish tent, reflecting the fashion for tents and other decorative arts inspired by the Ottoman Empire. Similar examples of 18th-century exotic tents can be seen in England, France, and Northern Europe, preserved in museums and gardens.
Latimeria Summerhouse Folly
Set in Winterthur’s Peony Garden, this pagoda-topped gazebo was saved from destruction by du Pont from the Latimeria estate in Wilmington and installed in the garden in 1929.
Pagoda Gate Folly
Also from Latimeria, the Pagoda Gate and Umbrella Seat follies greet visitors as they enter the garden from the path from the Visitor Center.
Pagoda Umbrella Seat Folly
Faerie Cottage Folly
This folly was constructed with repurposed items from the estate, including iron and stone elements from earlier gardens.
Gothic Tower Folly
This structure is similar to the towers, sham castles, and fake ruins that were very popular in European landscapes in the 1700s and 1800s. The towers would have been highly visible and would have given a sense of age and importance to their respective properties.
Green Folly
Made using Winterthur tree trunks, beech twig thatching, and other woodland embellishments, this folly features plant materials from the Winterthur estate and was designed to reflect the spirit of the garden.
Needle's Eye Folly
Inspired by a folly constructed in the 18th century in Yorkshire, England, the Needle’s Eye floats on a pond adjacent to Winterthur’s main drive, creating reflections in the water.
Winterthur, Henry Francis du Pont's former estate museum in Delaware, is showcasing the unusual architectural objects.