Open scroll work on rectangular music stand; elaborate lyre-shaped pedal support with two pedals. Three massive legs with ten-faceted tapered legs. Sides of keyboard area scrolled with foliate carving. Around bottom is rope-like molding.
Ames, Kenneth L [ed], 'Victorian Furniture: Essays from a Victorian Society Autumn Symposium', Victorian Society in America, 1982.
Height (in)
37.437
Length (in)
98.5
Width (in)
57
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-11-17
Condition Notes
adjusted' piano 5/16/1949
Last cleaning & tuning September 2006
Several strings are broken and the sound board no longer holds its tuning.
Object ID
W.1936.001.004
Notes
Jonas Chickering (1798-1853), whose firm made the piano, began his career as a cabinetmaker in Ipswich, New Hampshire. In 1818 at the age of twenty, he went to Boston and apprenticed himself in one of the town's cabinet shops.
American Rococo Revival Walnut Sofa. The serpentine back centered by a rose and shell scrolled carved crest, the back joined to closed arms, with a serpentine apron and raised on cabriole legs terminating in casters, silk velvet upholstery.
Waist-up portrait of James Buchanan, Jr. with brown hair combed back and brushed forward at ear. Wearing dark brown coat, white vest with gold buttons, olive green/aqua tie with gold stick pin with ruby head. The portrait is mounted in a Regency caveto moulded gilt gesso frame with beaded border with projecting corners ornately adorned scrolling foliage patterns with fleur-de-lis patterns. James Buchanan, Jr. was the Private Secretary to the President of the United States.
Provenance
Edward Y. Buchanan
to Maria Buchanan Cassatt
to her granddaughter, Katherine S. de Spoelberch (the donor, Mrs. Eric) grand-niece of James Buchanan, Jr.
A Regency caveto moulded gilt gesso frame with beaded border with projecting corners ornately adorned scrolling foliage patterns with fleur-de-lis patterns.
Object Name
Painting
Material
Paint/Canvas/Wood
Height (in)
36.875
Width (in)
32
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2003-10-20
Object ID
W.1945.002.001
Notes
James Buchanan, Jr. was the first born child to Reverend Edward Young Buchanan and Ann Eliza Foster Buchanan. He served as the Private Secretary to President James Buchanan, his uncle, after his cousin, James Buchanan Henry resigned the position in 1859.
Stormy scene; water in foreground, land to center, back and left. Norman Castle is on top of cliffs. Two smaller buildings at shore level below castle. Wrecked ship against cliffs. Four smaller figures on cliff. Sea is rough with high waves.
'Chepstow (Beaufort Arms; George), a town with 2,953 inhabitants, on the west bank of the Wye, is a station on the G.W.R. and a good centre for excursions.
Inscription Type
Paper Tag
Frame
H: 49.50 inches x W: 63.25 inches. Rococo Revival gilt wood and gesso
Object Name
Painting
Material
Paint/Canvas/Wood
Medium
Painting, Oil
Height (in)
49.5
Width (in)
63.25
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2003-10-21
Condition Notes
Paint is cracking in areas
Object ID
W.1950.003.001
Notes
Text Found on Reverse of Painting- 'Chepstow (Beaufort Arms; George), a town with 2,953 inhabitants, on the west bank of the Wye, is a station on the G.W.R. and a good centre for excursions.
Bookcase composed of two sections. Cabinet with glass doors at top and cabinet with wooden doors at bottom. Two glass doors have square mullions holding the panes. Doors give access to moveable shelves inside. Two doors at bottom of each have simple rectangular recessed panels.
Thomas Potter - 2nd owner of Wheatland
Sold to William Morris Meredith 3rd owner of Wheatland
Sold to James Buchanan 4th owner of Wheatland
Inherited by Harriet Lane Johnston 5th owner of Wheatland
Bequeathed to John Newton Lane, Harriet Lane Johnston's nephew
Bequeathed to Mrs. Patty Lane Fay daughter of John N. Lane
Bookcases sold to Meredith in 1845 by Potter then Meredith sold them to James Buchanan in 1848. Letter dated 9/27/1848 to Buchanan from Meredith: 'In addition to the $6750 which you mention, I paid Mr. Potter for the bookcases in the library, I think $75.00.'
Left earlobe has broken off. Base is chipped. Various smudge marks all over.
Object ID
W.1960.006.001
Notes
James Buchanan Henry inherited this bust when his Uncle James Buchanan died; his cousin, Harriet Lane Johnston inherited the matching bust, which she later donated to the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
James Buchanan Henry bequeathed this bust to his son, Frank Anderson Henry, who donated it to the James Buchanan Foundation in 1960.
Daguerreotype of Harriet Lane. Full bust length view, facing right. Her hair is coiled and pinned back. She is wearing a dark jacket over a white blouse, with a white lace collar. Broach at her neck and long earrings are prominent. Gold matting around image. Image mounted inside of book-type case of black leather and red velvet inner lining. Two hook clasps.
This daguerreotype represents the earliest known image of Harriet Lane, niece of President James Buchanan. This likeness might have been photographed ca. 1845, Harriet Lane would have been about fifteen years old.
Jacquard woven blanket formed by two layers of intersecting dyed and undyed fabric. It was manufactured, not hand woven, due to the size of the loom required and complexity of punching the cards to form the pattern. Blue base with undyed wool forming a floral design.with starburst and diamond alternating patterns in between. Green fabric tape found on edges. Design is reversed in color on opposite side. Center design is cluster of four rose plants. Border is a foliate vine with blossoms.
Supposedly owned by Harriet Lane when she attended Georgetown Visitation Convent. Unknown how it came to be in donor's possession. Donor's son and daughter-in-law posited that perhaps Charlotte A. Bauer (donor) received it from Mrs. Cynthia Westover Alden, who was a cousin by marriage to John Alden. Mrs. Cynthia W. Alden had many connections in the 1880s and may have received the blanket from Harriet Lane Johnston.
