Chair's green paint was striped in 1976. Unknown if paint was original.
Object ID
W.1974.028.001
Notes
Original accession number W.35.28, would lead one to believe the James Buchanan Foundation obtained the chair in 1935; however, teh file holds letters written by the donor, Mr. Russel, that are dated 1974. The Accession Record is, therefore, inaccurate.
Research required to authenticate object connection with Elizabeth Speer Buchanan. The donor's 14 May 1974 letter states that the chair "came from the home of James Buchanan. When his Mother died at Cove Gap, PA." It should be noted that primary sources indicate that Elizabeth Speer Buchanan died on 14 May 1833 at 9:00 AM at the home of her daughter in Greensburg, PA.
Rocking chair in the Pennsylvania Dutch style with wide, boldly rounded hoop back and wide vase-shaped splat. The arms are downcurved, about two inches wide, and terminate in large convex scrolls. The arms are supported by short, simply turned arm stumps. The solid wood seat is one to two inches thick, rolled at front and upcurved at rear. The seat is supported by four short turned legs mounted on rockers about 28 inches long. These are braced front and rear by single turned stretchers. Body coat of brown is overlaid with clusters of fruit on back top rail, splat and front of seat in polychrome colors and is striped in gilt.
water spotting cleaned by conservator in early months of 2020 following a water leak inside the bedchamber caused by contractor error during roof restoration project.
Bought at sale by Dr. Metzger who gave chair to Mrs. C. F. May. Mrs. May presented chair to Wheatland in memory of her husband. According to Board Minutes, this only concerns the straight char and not the rocker.
Two Greek Revival Chairs, rush seats, painted back rail. Cabriole front and back legs with gold stringing. Front and back has single stretcher, each side have double stretchers. American
Empire mahogany side chair with a wide curved tablet top back splat and a horizontal foliate carved center splat. The upholstered seat is supported by sloping rounded side rails. At the apron corners are carved florets above the urn-shaped turnings and reeded front legs terminating with bun feet. The back legs are square saber styles.
American Empire side chair designed in the Klismos-style; chair style shaped after ancient Greek designs. Distinguishing features include sabre-like tapered legs, curved tablet backrests and curled stiles. The mahogany veneer back top rail has a rolled tablet crest. The upholstered slip takes the same shape of the straight front skirt that has a molded design as do the flat front of the front legs.
Lightweight, woven wicker-seated. Painted black with decorations (on chair back, seat front, front legs) in gold with mint green and peach, also on horizontal cross splat painted blue, pink, and yellow flowers. (Painted different flowers, different color)
Arm chair with upholstered seat and seat back in yellow chintz with orange peony and tiger lily flowers. Wooden frame and arms. Seat back is squarish with craved top with symetrical scrolls and feather design. Arms scroll to front with a 4-petal flower
Arm chair with upholstered seat and seat back in yellow chintz with orange peoney and tiger lilly flowers. Wooden frame and arms. Seat back is squarish with craved top with symetrical scrolls and feather design. Arms scroll to front with a 4-petel flower
American Empire chair; back top rail is a wide concave veneer with gilded decoration surmounting downward sloping arm rests and an urn shaped vertical splat back. The arms are supported by curved uprights surmounting a plain curved apron with an upholstered slip seat. The front legs are flat and shaped in reverse ogee curves with front edges rounded. The rear legs are square and have a backward saber curve.
Provenance
Buchanan, James
To - Buchanan, Edward Young
To - Ewing, Alice C. Buchanan
To - Ewing, Alice B.
To - Niece, Marshall, Cornelia Lausdale Brooke (Mrs. Donnel)
James Buchanan to Edward Y. Buchanan to Alice Cunningham Buchanan to Alice Buchanan Ewing, her daughter. Alice B. Ewing her niece, Mrs. Donnell Marshall / Cornelia Lausdale Brooke, daughter to Cornelia Lausdale Ewing and Robert E. Brooke.
American Empire chair; back top rail is a wide concave veneer with gilded decoration surmounting downward sloping arm rests and an urn shaped vertical splat back. The arms are supported by curved uprights surmounting a plain curved apron with an upholstered slip seat. The front legs are flat and shaped in reverse ogee curves with front edges rounded. The rear legs are square and have a backward saber curve.
Provenance
Buchanan, James
To - Buchanan, Edward Young
To - Ewing, Alice C. Buchanan
To - Ewing, Alice B.
To - Niece, Marshall, Cornelia Lausdale Brooke (Mrs. Donnel)
James Buchanan to Edward Y. Buchanan to Alice Cunningham Buchanan to Alice Buchanan Ewing, her daughter. Alice B. Ewing her niece, Mrs. Donnell Marshall / Cornelia Lausdale Brooke, daughter to Cornelia Lausdale Ewing and Robert E. Brooke.
American Empire chair; the back top rail is a wide concave veneer with gilded decoration surmounting downward sloping arm rests and an urn shaped vertical splat back. The arms are supported by curved uprights surmounting a plain curved apron with an upholstered slip seat. The front legs are flat and shaped in reverse ogee curves with front edges rounded. The rear legs are square and have a backward saber curve.
Provenance
Buchanan, James
To - Buchanan, Edward Young
To - Ewing, Alice C. Buchanan
To - Ewing, Alice B.
To - Niece, Marshall, Cornelia Lausdale Brooke (Mrs. Donnel)
James Buchanan to Edward Y. Buchanan to Alice Cunningham Buchanan to Alice Buchanan Ewing, her daughter. Alice B. Ewing her niece, Mrs. Donnell Marshall / Cornelia Lausdale Brooke, daughter to Cornelia Lausdale Ewing and Robert E. Brooke.
A night commode chair that has a four-slat back crest with a Windsor arrow design at the lower back of the chair. The high back chair has turned legs, which are braced by ring-turned box stretchers. The seat has a hole cut out at its center with a separate wood lid with a wrought-iron handle fixed by two screws. The underside of the seat no longer has rabbets to support its zinc or lead chamberpot.
One of a pair of Empire side chairs (with 2013.008.22) with yellow upholstered seat and cherry wood frame. Elements of entire frame are flat with rounded fronts. Back uprights have slight cyma curve, surmounted by a long, wide concave tablet. Tablet has low relief foliate carved ends while most of face is covered with a panel of mahogany veneer. Tablet extends beyond back uprights. Horizontal splat at center of back is pierced carved with a central rectangle flanked by half-moon carved shells, and is then supported by paired, loosely scrolled lyre-like "legs" that attach to chair posts. Trapezoid slip seat upholstered in an ivory cotton brocade. Front legs have a slight cyma curve.
One of a pair of Empire side chairs (with 2013.008.21) with yellow upholstered seat and cherry wood frame. Elements of entire frame are flat with rounded fronts. Back uprights have slight cyma curve, surmounted by a long, wide concave tablet. Tablet has low relief foliate carved ends while most of face is covered with a panel of mahogany veneer. Tablet extends beyond back uprights. Horizontal splat at center of back is pierced carved with a central rectangle flanked by half-moon carved shells, and is then supported by paired, loosely scrolled lyre-like "legs" that attach to chair posts. Trapezoid seat. Front legs have a slight cyma curve.
American Empire side chair designed in the Klismos-style; chair style shaped after ancient Greek designs. Distinguishing features include sabre-like tapered legs, curved tablet backrests and curled stiles. The mahogany veneer back top rail has a rolled tablet crest. The upholstered slip takes the same shape of the straight front skirt that has a molded design as do the flat front of the front legs.
American Empire side chair designed in the Klismos-style; chair style shaped after ancient Greek designs. Distinguishing features include sabre-like tapered legs, curved tablet backrests and curled stiles. The mahogany veneer back top rail has a rolled tablet crest. The upholstered slip takes the same shape of the straight front skirt that has a molded design as do the flat front of the front legs.
Provenance
Mrs. Baker
Date Range
Ca. 1835
Storage Location
Wheatland, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Center Attic West Room
Storage Wall
West Wall
Object Name
Chair, Side
Height (cm)
86.6775
Height (ft)
2.84375
Height (in)
34.125
Width (cm)
48.73498
Width (ft)
1.5989166667
Width (in)
19.187
Depth (cm)
43.4975
Depth (ft)
1.4270833333
Depth (in)
17.125
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2023-01-21
Condition Notes
Some cracking of wood Re-upholstered by Scalamandre in 1957
American Empire side chair designed in the Klismos-style; chair style shaped after ancient Greek designs. Distinguishing features include sabre-like tapered legs, curved tablet backrests and curled stiles. The mahogany veneer back top rail has a rolled tablet crest. The upholstered slip takes the same shape of the straight front skirt that has a molded design as do the flat front of the front legs.
Provenance
Mrs. Baker
Date Range
Ca. 1835
Storage Location
Wheatland, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Center Attic West Room
Storage Wall
West Wall
Object Name
Chair, Side
Height (cm)
86.6775
Height (ft)
2.84375
Height (in)
34.125
Width (cm)
48.73498
Width (ft)
1.5989166667
Width (in)
19.187
Depth (cm)
43.4975
Depth (ft)
1.4270833333
Depth (in)
17.125
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2023-01-21
Condition Notes
Some cracking of wood Re-upholstered by Scalamandre in 1957
American Empire side chair designed in the Klismos-style; chair style shaped after ancient Greek designs. Distinguishing features include sabre-like tapered legs, curved tablet backrests and curled stiles. The mahogany veneer back top rail has a rolled tablet crest. The upholstered slip takes the same shape of the straight front skirt that has a molded design as do the flat front of the front legs.
Provenance
Mrs. Baker
Date Range
Ca. 1835
Storage Location
Wheatland, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Northwest Bedchamber
Storage Wall
North Wall
Object Name
Chair, Side
Height (cm)
86.6775
Height (ft)
2.84375
Height (in)
34.125
Width (cm)
48.73498
Width (ft)
1.5989166667
Width (in)
19.187
Depth (cm)
43.4975
Depth (ft)
1.4270833333
Depth (in)
17.125
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2023-01-21
Condition Notes
Some cracking of wood Re-upholstered by Scalamandre in 1957
