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.
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.
Re-upholstered -date unknown Two had been green velvet and one blue velvet Originally [when owned by Buchanan] chairs were covered in green morocco leather.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
One of 23 saucers. A hard-paste porcelain china that originated at the Sèvres factory in France. Decorated and sold by Haviland's. Decor consists of maroon boarders on a white background, gilded edges and a centered gold ring with gilt highlights.
Provenance
Johnston, Harriet Lane
To - cousin, Riddle, Katherine W.
To - sister, Riddle, Anna S.
To - cousins, Coe, Sara W. & Coe, W. Travers To - Murphy, Elsie B. of Charles Town, W. VA. To - Governor's Mansion Virginia by Ms. Murphy's sister, Fletcher, Mrs. Robert.
One of 23 saucers. A hard-paste porcelain china that originated at the Sèvres factory in France. Decorated and sold by Haviland's. Decor consists of maroon boarders on a white background, gilded edges and a centered gold ring with gilt highlights.
Provenance
Johnston, Harriet Lane
To - cousin, Riddle, Katherine W.
To - sister, Riddle, Anna S.
To - cousins, Coe, Sara W. & Coe, W. Travers To - Murphy, Elsie B. of Charles Town, W. VA. To - Governor's Mansion Virginia by Ms. Murphy's sister, Fletcher, Mrs. Robert.
One of 23 saucers. A hard-paste porcelain china that originated at the Sèvres factory in France. Decorated and sold by Haviland's. Decor consists of maroon boarders on a white background, gilded edges and a centered gold ring with gilt highlights.
Provenance
Johnston, Harriet Lane
To - cousin, Riddle, Katherine W.
To - sister, Riddle, Anna S.
To - cousins, Coe, Sara W. & Coe, W. Travers To - Murphy, Elsie B. of Charles Town, W. VA. To - Governor's Mansion Virginia by Ms. Murphy's sister, Fletcher, Mrs. Robert.
One of 23 saucers. A hard-paste porcelain china that originated at the Sèvres factory in France. Decorated and sold by Haviland's. Decor consists of maroon boarders on a white background, gilded edges and a centered gold ring with gilt highlights.
Provenance
Johnston, Harriet Lane
To - cousin, Riddle, Katherine W.
To - sister, Riddle, Anna S.
To - cousins, Coe, Sara W. & Coe, W. Travers To - Murphy, Elsie B. of Charles Town, W. VA. To - Governor's Mansion Virginia by Ms. Murphy's sister, Fletcher, Mrs. Robert.
American Empire chair, incorrectly called a fiddle-back. 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)
Small white saucer with a thick pink-painted portion in between two gold-painted lines bordering edge. In center, is a gold-painted starburst surrounded by a gold-painted circle. Maker's mark is written on bottom. May be part of the Parisian Pink china purchased by James Buchanan while serving as the U.S. Secretary of State from the French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt.
Provenance
Note: Most likely part of:
French Ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt
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.
Vase splat chair, back top rail is faced with a crotch-grain mahogony veneer and is a wide concave cross member with rounded ends, a rolled cresting and scroll-cut lower edge. The top is supported by plain rounded uprights that are a continuation of the square rear legs that have a backward saber curve.
The back is open with a wide urn-shaped splat that surmounts the upholstered, rectangular slip seat. The front rail has a conforming shape to the seat and is supported by the front legs that are flat and shaped in a reverse ogee curve with rounded front edges.
Vase splat chair, back top rail is faced with a crotch-grain mahogony veneer and is a wide concave cross member with rounded ends, a wide concave crest and scroll-cut lower edge. The top is supported by plain rounded uprights that are a continuation of the square rear legs that have a backward saber curve.
The back is open with a wide urn-shaped splat that surmounts the upholstered, rectangular slip seat. The front rail has a conforming shape to the seat and is supported by the front legs that are flat and shaped in a reverse ogee curve with rounded front edges.
Balloon back walnut chairs with serpentine splat. Louis XV style back is rounded and finger molded with no additional carving. Flaring upholstered seat-black horsehair-with serpentine front with beaded molding at bottom of skirt. Cabriole front legs, rounded, with slightly curved square back legs terminating on flat feet.
Artifacts mentioned by Ara Hatch in New York Dalily Times 11/10/1856. Person had visited Wheatland.
Height (in)
34.312
Width (in)
18
Depth (in)
16.125
Condition
Excellent
Condition Date
2022-11-21
Condition Notes
Reupolstered; James Buchanan Foundation records indicate the seats were originally covered in green morrocan leather.
Object ID
W.1936.001.015.2
Notes
The chair was presumed to belong to James Buchanan by the James Buchanan Foundation representatives in 1936 when they bought certain furnishings that were still in the mansion during the Willson-Rettew Estate sale.
Mentioned by Ara Hatch in the N.Y. Daily Times (visited Wheatland 10 November 1856.)
