Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia
The House & Collection
Architecture
Uniacke
House was built in 1813-1815 as the country home of Richard John Uniacke,
Attorney General of Nova Scotia. With its impressive pillared portico,
two storeys high, the house is considered of national architectural
significance, as an example of the neo-classical style in Canada.
Its architect is unknown.
As well as the house, the original barn, coach house, and some parts of the hot house and haha wall have survived since Uniacke’s time.
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The Collection
For his new house, Mr. Uniacke purchased plain but elegant mahogany furniture from George Adams, a cabinet maker in London whose label appears on a number of the pieces. These original furnishings remain in the house, along with other things added during the long period that the family lived here.
When Richard John Uniacke died, his sons made a complete inventory
of their father’s possessions, so we know what was in the estate
at that time, room by room, building by building.The library contains
many of his books. Here, too, are his desk
and large armchair. The house was heated by modern wood stoves set on marble
hearths.
In the dining room is the mahogany dining table, with its original
maker’s label, “George Adams”. The crystal and silverware
were used by Uniacke or his descendants.
A creamware dessert service from the late 1700s once belonged to Prince Edward, father of the future Queen Victoria.
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Rare Portraits on Display
Visitors can see two very rare portraits painted in 1748 by American artist Robert Feke. The only two of his paintings known outside the United States, these portraits depict prominent Bostonians James and Susannah (Faneuil) Boutineau. The paintings were brought to Mount Uniacke about 1847.
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| Another pair of portraits c.1762 by John Singleton Copley features the daughter, Susanna Boutineau and her husband, the Honourable Michael Francklin. |
More from the collection:
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