Black and white photo of President James Buchanan and his 7 cabinet members. Buchanan stands in center with his left hand resting on the left page of a large open book.
Crest of top rail, finger-molded in scalloped shaped. Horizontal splat curved upward, terminating in scroll on each end, thicker at middle. Seat is shield shape, serpentine front. Legs plain cabriole, back legs square and canted. 36.14.3 differs from 36.
Leaded wine glass with round foot, thickens near stem. Stem is wide near foot and tapers to a narrow shaped stem before slightly flaring wide near base of bowl. Eight faceted. Facets extend up to the bowl of the glass and ends in scallops. Body has slightl flare.
American Sheraton Windsor Arrow Back Arm Chair. Made from pine, maple, poplar, and tulip woods. Chair has four vertical flattened spindles. Stretchers on sides are lower than stretchers in front and back.
Provenance
Buchanan, James
To - Buchanan Edward Y. (Brother)
To - Ewing, Alice Conyngham Buchanan (EYB Daughter)
To - Brooke, Cornelia Lausdale Ewing (ABEwing Daughter)
Black Japanese box completely lacquered, inside and out, with removable lid (b) and two drawers (c,d) with metal handles that swivel 180 degrees. Top drawer is shallow, bottom drawer is deep. The rounded top front is painted with fine gold pattern, surrounded by gold border.
Various feathers painted on sides. All edges are painted gold. 3 birds painted on top with fine gold lines crossing at angles to create a mesh pattern.
Missing piece out of top part on side.
a. 100 stiff paper cards with a single black shadowed letter on one side of each card for each of the 26 letters of the English alphabet.
Measurements above for 35.75a (cards) each is 1.125 long x 1.25 wide (100 cards)
35.75b is lid
35.75c (top drawer) = 4' x 8.25" x 5/8 inch
35.75d (bottom drawer) = 4" x 8.25" x 1.5"
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2003-07-17
Condition Notes
2 3/4" length gap in side of lid where a piece is missing. Piece of wood missing on inside edge of bottom drawer (35.75d). Some chipping and cracking of lacquer, pieces of veneer missing from drawer fronts. One corner foot missing from base.
Object ID
W.1935.075.a-d
Notes
Said to have been given to Buchanan by Japanese delegation
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
a.(medal): Circular bronzed copper commemorative medal. Raised profile of James Buchanan in center. Around edge:"James Buchanan, President of the United States." Beneath is name of the designer, "S.(alathiel) Ellis. SC."
On reverse: Border of 3 layers of oak leaves and acorns with a striped shield at bottom center. In center above: " In/Commemoration/of the/ First Embassy from/ Japan/to the/ United States/ 1860" On right, beneath striped shield: "Paquet F."
b. Leather case for Buchanan Commemorative medal in the shape of a large coin. On both black leather covers and spine is a gold 3-line border that frames an eagle perched on a striped shield with arrows and olive branches beneath its clawed foot. 13 gold stars surround it and sprays of peonies are in each corner. The book opens to the back. Wood edges frame a circular holder for the medal. Peony sprays are pressed into all 4 corners of the velvet covering.
Commemorates the Japanese Delegation visit to United States of America
Oblong shaped walnut veneered container with a back-hinged lid, beveled shape raised central flat area carved with egg-bead molding. Brass 8-point star bail handles are on each end; one handle missing. Brass round keyhole escutcheon is centered on the top front façade of the box with egg & bead molding around the base surmounting four flat-bun shaped feet. Interior features two boxes with back hinged lids as storage compartments for tea leaves. In the center is a circular aperture lined with felt holding a star cut glass mixing bowl to blend tea leaves.
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 Empire style stool has an upholstered adjustable seat finished with green silk velvet. The serpentine apron and urn shaped pedestal surmounts a plinth base with four square legs each terminating on casters. The primary wood, pine, is veneered in walnut.