Engraving of James Buchanan. Tinted engraving. James Buchanan stands 3/4 front to his left at center of picture dressed in a black suit with white tie. James Buchanan has left hand resting on upright brown book on table to his left. Table has round top with green baize cloth.
J. C. Buttre, 48 Franklin St., New York, New York.
Framed lithographic image of John C. Breckinridge,14th Vice President of the United States. Mr. Breckinridge head and torso is facing to his right, wearing a black cravat with gold tie pin over a stock standing collar, black vest and black suit coat. Background includes the oval back to a chair, velvet red drapery and the base of a column.
James Buchanan, Fifteenth President of the United States
Description
Framed Currier print of James Buchanan. Buchanan sits at center, face diagonally to the left. He wears a white button-up shirt with high collar and white bow tie under chin. Black vest with four buttons all buttoned. Black jacket with lapels, two buttons
Carved teak(?) 2-pedestal desk of three parts. The two pedestal bases have 3 drawers on one side only & false drawers on the other. Desk section rests on top of bases. Extensive carving over most surfaces: variations of grapes, vines & leaves. Desk section has long center drawer w/ 2 short side drawers; opposing side has matching "dummy" drawers. All functioning drawers are one side only. All drawers have wood pulls. Flanking drawers in bases are tapering pilasters (split columns) with vine and grape leaf carving. Bottom of bases has gadrooned edge with egg-and-dart carving. Both bases sit on 4 bun feet w/ some carving.
Worn finish, with some areas very "weathered/sunbleached", especially lower sections of bases below dummy drawers. Some areas of liquid staining. Desk top also has wear and marring with one chipped corner and a long crack extending in from right end. One drawer pull missing. Drawer slides resurfaced
Object ID
2013.008.017
Notes
A private gift from an acquaintance in India to President-elect James Buchanan. Buchanan used it in the White House.
Place of Origin
India
Credit
Gift of the Family of Eleanor N. Henry (John D. McNeill Jr., Mary Catherine Henry West, James Buchanan Henry IV, and Elizabeth Henry Richardson)
Portrait of James Buchanan, painted by William McMaster. The artist painted this as a copy of his July 1856 Buchanan portrait after the General Election in November 1856. This portrait was commissioned by the Empire Club, which was a powerful political organization in New York during the mid-19th century. Captain Isaiah Rynders was the founder of the Club; his "sluggers" committed voter intimidation and election fraud on behalf of Tammany Hall throughout the 1840s and 1850s. The Empire Club purportedly paid McMaster $1,000 (equal to $28,571 today) to paint a copy of McMaster's July 1856 Buchanan portrait. This copy was hung in the Capitol Rotunda when Buchanan took office; however, at some point during his term, as his popularity began to sink, it was removed. Mounted in a Rococo Revival gilt wood and gesso frame with ornamental projecting corners featuring ornate scrolling foliage patterns with centre repose engraved with sculptural shells & acanthus leaves and fleur-de-lis patterns.
