Balloon back walnut chairs with serpentine splat. Louis XV style back is rounded and finger molded with no additional carving. Flaring upholstered seat-black horsehair-with serpentine front with beaded molding at bottom of skirt. Cabriole front legs, rounded, with slightly curved square back legs terminating on flat feet.
Artifacts mentioned by Ara Hatch in New York Dalily Times 11/10/1856. Person had visited Wheatland.
Height (in)
34.312
Width (in)
18
Depth (in)
16.125
Condition
Excellent
Condition Date
2022-11-21
Condition Notes
Reupolstered; James Buchanan Foundation records indicate the seats were originally covered in green morrocan leather.
Object ID
W.1936.001.015.2
Notes
The chair was presumed to belong to James Buchanan by the James Buchanan Foundation representatives in 1936 when they bought certain furnishings that were still in the mansion during the Willson-Rettew Estate sale.
Mentioned by Ara Hatch in the N.Y. Daily Times (visited Wheatland 10 November 1856.)
Hepplewhite Pembrook Oval Table. Two drop leaves, when opened, are supported by pivoted shaped brackets. End skirts are straight with one containing a full-width drawer. The four slender tapering legs have satinwood inlay at the upper end.
Lithograph- Print of Prince Albert from Painting by F. Winterhalter; black ink, oval background. Prince Albert- body is 1/2 to his right, head is 1/4 to the right, looking forward. Wearing military dress with medals. Signed 'Albert'
F. Winterhalter painted the original. J. A. Vinter, engraver. Day & Son, lithographer.
Oval platter, slightly scalloped edge with coat of arms, white porcelain with double gold bands at border. Gold laurel leaves between coat-of-arms (raised arm with dagger) monogrammed in gold. Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, France. Designed by Jacquel.
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.'
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.
Remains of green silk at both ends over linen. Backing appears to be natural color linen with an open weave wool decorated with needlepoint floral-design repeated about ten times down length. Red rose/lavender rose/blue violets, with green leaves also shadings of brown.
Sepia-tinted photo of Harriet Lane. Oval. Harriet facing 3/4 front, to her right. Hair rolled under with flowers. Decolletage dress with flowers at center and at shoulders. Light-colored dress, no jewelry. Shown from hips up. Frame: rounded front, plain,
One of 44 Parisian Pink dinner plates. White with gold laurel leaf border; inside wider band of pink bordered with gold; monogram 'HEJ' and coat of arms (armored upraised arm with dagger) in gold; scalloped edge.
8 linen hand towels. White damask with geometric square design panel along both ends, vine and leaf design. Crocheted edges with 'HLJ' elaborately embroidered with grey thread with floral motifs.
Were Harriet Lane Johnston's. Inherited by _____________ who was Harriet's cousin, then to _______________ sister Mrs. E.R. Taylor. Then they went to her son, Edmund R. Taylor Jr., who with his wife was the donor to Wheatland.
