Extremely large Japanese porcelain bowl. White ground with blue decoration. Footed with sea waves on base and three rows of slanted lines on neck of base. Outside of bowl has cranes and bamboo depicted in white with blue ground color.
This bowl was presented as a gift of state to President Buchanan in 1860 by the Japanese delegates representing the Tokugawa shogunate government. The bowl was created by Jihei Kawamoto as one of two bowls for sake. It reflects the Emperor's personal symbol and his regard for James Buchanan marking a new and firm friendship between Japan and the United States.
Provenance
Following the assasination of Abraham Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln marked the bowl as an item to sell to pay for some of the debts she was struggling under. Her friend and advisor, George Riggs advised her not to sell the bowl. He made her an offer for the bowl and she sold it to him. Mr. Rigg's daughter, Jane, inherited the bowl and eventually bequeatherd it to Miss Mary F. McMullen who in turn bequeathed it to Mr. J.B. McMullen. A distant relative of James Buchanan, Mr. Wylie Buchanan, purchased the bowl from McMullen and donated it to the Wheatland collection in 1960.
Belonged to James Buchanan as President. Left white house sometime after and was in possession of Geo. Washington Riggs by mid-May 1865. Remained in Riggs family until 1930 when given to a family servent Mary McMullen.
$500 Scholarship certificate from Franklin and Marshall College issued to Andrew Bausman, signed by James Buchanan as President of Board of Trustees, J. M. Long as Treasurer, and Thomas C. Porter as Secretary. Dated June 20, 1864.
"No. 6" at top with "Scholarship" above a photo of college buildings flanked on left with the face of Franklin and Marshall on the right. "Franklin and Marshall College/ Second Series." is printed below.
Thin white mat does not appear to be acid-free. There are some ripples on the upper right of the scholarship paper and a small tear on upper edge, right of center.
Porcelain china compote with hand-painted landscape scenary on outer body of the bowl. Acquired by James Buchanan while serving as Secretary of State from then outgoing French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt.
Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Provenance
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
Mark applied over glaze, therefore some of the ojects no longer have the designer's signature
Height (cm)
13.97
Height (ft)
0.4583333333
Height (in)
5.5
Diameter (cm)
25.4
Diameter (ft)
0.8333333333
Diameter (in)
10
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2023-03-31
Condition Notes
Some thinning of decorative paints, chipping, broken.
Object ID
W.1935.010.001
Notes
In 1995 the JBF staff assigned the Object ID W.95.69.2 to this Compote as a FIC probably because original paper records were not found.
In March 2023 the paper file has been found that identifies Lois Cassatt Thayer as the donor in 1935. Mrs. Thayer was the daughter to Alexander Cassatt and his wife, Maria Lois Buchanan Cassatt. Maria Lois Buchanan was the daughter to Rev. Dr. Edward Y. Buchanan, the youngest sibling to President James Buchanan.
Marble Fragment from Original Tomb of James Buchanan
Description
Fragment from James Buchanan's tomb in Woodward Hill Cemetery, Lancaster, PA. Rectangular base with relief carving of three oak leaves on one short branch with an acorn on top. White marble. On back: paper with handwritten ink: 'a piece of waste marble from (the?) Tomb of Hon. James Buchanan.
Provenance
Found by donor at gravesite. From original tombstone. Gift of Jim McMullin per Pat Clarke 4/5/2023
Lignum vitas wood caster with round, bowl-like top, pierced for shaking out pounce. Base is ring-turned tapers smaller to broad top, flat bottom. Small, shallow dotted pattern in two bands near bottom. Lip at top has thin groove. Top screws onto base that would be filled with pounce, which is a fine powder made from powdered cuttlefish bone. Pounce was used both to dry ink and to sprinkle on a rough writing surface to make it smooth enough for writing.
Esther 'Hetty' Parker, James Buchanan's housekeeper, chose this among several other household items that Buchanan noted she was to be allowed to choose after his death. Miss Hetty gave this to the daughter of her neighbor. Miss Steckman donated this to the Wheatland collection in 1938.
Signature stamp. Thin metal layer mounted on thick piece of wood, attached by small nails. Thin metal has signature of 'James Buchanan' carved out of it in reverse. Wood stained along metal strip from ink
