Sheraton-inspired mahogany veneer night table with satinwood inlay accents that outline the apron, drawer and keyhole, as well as the legs. The table top has eight sides and surmounts four saber legs that also support a lower inward-curved shelf.
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.'
Named for its principle use, this mahogany table top, with its oblong top and bead molded edge, was typically found at the side of a bedstead. The table's skirt is three to four inches deep and contains a single drawer that is the full width of the skirt. The drawer has two original brass knob pulls and a top centered brass escutcheon keyhole. The table is supported by four round tapering legs with ring and ball turnings at the top and two sets of ring turnings approximately two inches above the tapered feet of the legs.
Provenance
Alexander Speer, maternal first cousin to James Buchanan
Framed rectangular needlework, top crest slightly scalloped with hand grip. Inner frame edge scalloped. Needlework picture: Parrot in red, gold, blues, cream, small silver bead for eye, sitting among flowers including red, white, pink, roses, blue mornin
Provenance
Alexander Speer (James Buchanan's maternal first cousin)
An oil on canvas portrait of Dr. Alexander Speer (1790-1854) by artist, Antoine Gibert. Dr. Speer was a first cousin to James Buchanan on his mother's side of the family. Dr. Speer is turned facing one-quarter turn to his right and is wearing a black suit coat and vest with a white shirt, turned down collar and a black cravat. The portrait is framed in a French reverse cove gilded frame with a raised foliate motif
Bowfront mahogany veneer chest of drawers in the Hepplewhite style. Four drawers have progressing depths from the top to the bottom, each with overpressed drawer pulls two per drawer. At the top center of each drawer is a brass escutcheon keyhole. The top of the chest and each drawer are decorated with satin wood inlay. Chest is supported at its base by four french feet which feature a slightly outswept bracket foot combined with a valence skirt.
Provenance
Dr. Alexander Speer (James Buchanan maternal cousin)
Shaving stand is comprised of a mahogany veneer; the mirror attached to the top has a veneered bull-nose frame supported by ring and vase-turned stiles set into the top with tenons at a backward cant. The skirt has two half-drawers; however, the brass knob drawer-pulls are missing. The stand is supported by four ring and ball turned feet
The origin is in the partnership formed in 1832 by Joseph Trowbridge Bailey and Andrew B. Kitchen. New partnership was formed in 1848 under the name Bailey & Company until 1859.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2021-11-11
Condition Notes
Good, slightly tarnished
Object ID
W.1998.001.015c
Notes
Insured & appraised value is total for seven pieces of which the silver chocolate pot is one artifact.
