Flemish bond brick and white marble trim greet you at the Gardner–Pingree House in Salem, Massachusetts. This three-story brick rectangle, with a three-story ell extending the rear, is judged a masterpiece of Federal architecture by Salem builder Samuel McIntire and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972 for its architectural significance. It belongs to the Peabody Essex Museum as part of its architectural collection.
Notice the brick laid in Flemish bond and the white marble trim that accents this elegant facade. A low balustrade crowns a roof set above a modillioned cornice, and two interior brick chimneys pierce the skyline. Marble trim bands mark the floor levels and the third-floor windows are deliberately shortened; every window wears black shutters and is topped by a lintel with a keystone.
The main entrance is sheltered by an elliptical portico supported by four Corinthian columns. The doorway is framed by sidelight windows and an elliptical fanlight, with pilasters rising to the base of the portico top. Inside, the public spaces on the first floor reveal lavishly carved woodwork, including fireplace mantels. Notice the portico, the keystoned lintels, and the street framing this Federal facade.