American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts: Featuring Property from Prominent New York and Philadelphia Collectors

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John Jacob Astor IV was born into one of the most prominent and wealthy families in U.S. His success is attributed to his many professional pursuits--inventing, writing, and business ventures such as real estate development. He built the Astoria Hotel in New York in 1897, which later became the Waldorf-Astoria through the combination of his cousin's adjoining property. He died on the RMS Titanic when it sank in 1912.

William "Vincent" Astor was the eldest child of John Jacob Astor. Following his father's death, Vincent would inherit his immense fortune, using much of this wealth to fund philanthropic causes, including reinvesting in equitable housing projects in New York. He also gifted the family home Ferncliff to the Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, New York upon his death. He served on active duty in both World Wars, even loaning his yacht Nourmahal to the Coast Guard. He was married three times, including to Roberta "Brooke" Russell, who became Brooke Astor.

Aside from being known as a New York socialite, Brooke was hugely charitable, founding the Vincent Astor Foundation with her husband, an organization that supports projects specific to New York City.

The Merchant's House Museum, originally the Seabury Tredwell House, located at 29 East 4th Street in New York, was built by hatter Joseph Brewster in 1831-1832, and was sold to a merchant, Seabury Tredwell, in 1835, staying in the Tredwell Family until the 1933 with the death of Seabury's daughter Gertrude. The impressive Classical interior is remarkably intact, largely due to Gertrude's obstinate and reclusive nature. The house became a museum in 1936, after which it went through a series of restorations, aided by the Vincent Astor Foundation in 1997. This key, a reproduction house key, was likely presented to Brooke Astor at this time to honor her contributions.