The homesite was originally purchased by developer Robert Lynd who joined forces with Duncan in the early 1890s to build three townhouses in a row on Madison Ave; it reached final completion a few years later with additional renovations at the turn of the century.

Having judiciously overseen the construction of Grants Tomb in 1897—which he had designed after winning two architectural contests—this award-winning architect put meticulous effort into the design of 21 East 84th Street, leaving no stone unturned.
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The pre-war row house exceeds 6,500 square feet and is perhaps the most remarkable residence designed by Duncan on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It embraces a stunning neoclassical style with ornate details. Looking closely, one can see what looks like a high-relief frieze cutting along the upper perimeter of the building as well as a Greek-style key band that wraps around from the84th Street entrance to the Madison Ave side. Above this band are multiple authentic stained glass window transoms which bring colorful light into the first floor living room and study around midday. Archival photos suggest that the uniform black and gold iron fencing guarding the exterior and balcony was put in place at some point later.
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Stepping inside, grand wood sliding doors create both a sense of privacy and openness at a moment’s notice. Immediately, one is enamored by the earth-toned tile and marble work in the entryway and foyer. Much of the woodwork has retained its charm over the past century with its herringbone floor patterns and built-in shelving; looking upward in the study one is quite subtly captivated by the gold-painted ceiling. Blending seamlessly, six fireplaces throughout the home create a sense of warmth.

By the time its longest tenant Edward R. Finch and his family moved in in 1914, an elevator was installed for convenience and it’s still in its original, working form today. At some point after initial completion, there appears to have been changes made as well to the main staircase along side the addition of a staff staircase on the far side. Even still, the neoclassical details remain evident in the design of the handrails and newel posts as one climbs the stairs with a familiar old creak.

By the time Finch’s family moved out in 1974, two creative professionals by the names of Robert Kashey and Martin Reymert bought the home in order to permanently run their art gallery called Shepherd Gallery which had occupied the first floor since 1967. Embodying the in-vogue trend of converting and combining private residence with museum, they produced over a hundred art exhibitions for more than 30 years there focused on European art from the 18th to 20th centuries. Utilizing select rooms of the four-floor home for gallery space, they were dutifully mindful of preserving the building’s historical qualities; the building’s many windows and crafted wooden shutters must have proven useful in creating controlled light for exhibition showcasing.

Since 1977, the Finch Mansion has been incorporated into the Metropolitan Museum Historic District.

The home was listed for auction in 1998, and in 2001 the basement-floor commercial space now known as 1130 Madison Ave was constructed.

Today, 1130 Madison Ave has now become home to Memor Museum — a dynamic space dedicated to Asian art and cultural exhibitions and events, as well as an exciting precursor of what’s to come. Located just one block east of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Containing over a century’s worth of history frozen in time, this building will serve as a special holding place for historical preservation on a worldly scale; spanning millennia, Asian history represents a vast array of diverse cultures which will be dissected and displayed through special exhibitions in a common space.