WINTERTHUR, DE.-Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, the former home of collector Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969) now revered as a shrine of traditional American design, will be reinvigorated and transformed for the holiday season as celebrated New York designer Thomas Jayne infuses the museum’s iconic period interiors with his contemporary perspective.

Du Pont Dining Room - Jayne, often noted as one of the top decorators in America, has been selected by Winterthur to update and enliven some of the rooms on the museum’s popular Yuletide tour, which runs from November 22, 2005 through

January 2, 2006. Yuletide at Winterthur is presented by the JP Morgan Chase Foundation.

“While Winterthur’s Yuletide tour—known for its historically accurate portrayal of American holiday traditions—remains a favorite with visitors, we had some concern that it was languishing,” said Director and CEO Leslie Greene Bowman. “When I thought about who could refresh it while respecting the historic interiors created by our founder, Henry Francis du Pont, my mind immediately went to Thomas Jayne.”

Empire Parlor - A graduate of the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture, which awards a Master of Arts degree in conjunction with the University of Delaware, Jayne has become known for a distinctive approach to design, one that acknowledges and builds on cherished antecedents, while at the same time remaining connected and relevant to contemporary lifestyles, demands, and tastes.

“My design philosophy begins with strong architecture and ends with engaging, intelligent spaces that are appropriately elegant, tailored—yet comfortable—and that possess an overall sense of history and place,” said Thomas Jayne. “Winterthur has remained an inspiration for me throughout my career and so the opportunity to add some freshness to the Yuletide tour by bringing forward traditions for modern life and creating some contemporary rooms grounded in the museum’s authenticity and integrity was irresistible.”

For Yuletide at Winterthur, Jayne will transform four of the 17 rooms on the tour. His plan for the vast Marlboro Room, used by the du Pont family as an informal gathering and entertaining space, juxtaposes antiques with modern comfort and contemporary art. In the Empire-style room next door, Jayne will create a Twelfth Night party scene, while the elegant Baltimore Room will feature a display that blends the formality of 19th century entertaining with Jazz Age cocktail culture.

“The final drumroll,” said Jayne, “will be in the Du Pont Dining Room, Henry Francis du Pont’s premier space for dinner parties and holiday entertaining. We’ll make it a combination of old and new, as if a young family was entertaining there. We’ll have a display of a dessert buffet on the sideboard and decorate the magnificent Federal-style table with antique toys from the collection, as well as place settings that mix antique and modern items.

“Every room will offer a decorating idea,” he added. “And every room will also tell a story that is reflective of the holiday celebrations of the American past. The juxtaposition will be surprising; maybe even slightly shocking.” The rooms will feature fabrics by Brunschwig & Fils and furniture from Hickory Chair.

Yuletide at Winterthur will run from November 12, 2005 through January 2, 2006. This year, Winterthur will remain open for tours every Monday during the Yuletide season. Admission is $20, adults; $18, seniors and students; and $10, ages two to 11. Reservations are required.

Winterthur Museum & Country Estate—known worldwide for its preeminent collection of 85,000 American antiques; a naturalistic garden; and a library that is a research center for the study of American art and material culture—offers a variety of tours, exhibitions, programs, and activities throughout the year. USA Today recently named Winterthur as one of America’s “10 great places of historic proportions.”