NARRATOR: Furniture is conspicuously absent in this grand colonial parlor from an 18th century plantation in northern Virginia. But this was an intentional decision, made so that visitors could appreciate the remarkable painted panels of the room.Notice the garlands, classical urns, and cornucopias almost spilling over with fruit. The decorative program of this colonial interior is incredibly ambitious—on the wall next to the entranceway, you can see an elaborate landscape and the dado, or lower part of each wall, is carefully painted to create the illusion of marble. The architectural program is equally ambitious, with raised wood panels separated by graceful Ionic pilasters, or flat columns. On the top of each column we see the spiral scroll capital characteristic of the Ionic order. Although the columns create a formidable interior, they also serve the useful function of covering up joints in the wall where the different framed panels come together. Although absent of furniture now, its not hard to imagine what a grand space for entertaining guests this parlor once was.