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 (cm)
87.15248
Height (ft)
2.8593333333
Height (in)
34.312
Width (cm)
45.72
Width (ft)
1.5
Width (in)
18
Depth (cm)
40.9575
Depth (ft)
1.34375
Depth (in)
16.125
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-04-20
Condition Notes
Reupolstered; James Buchanan Foundation records indicate the seats were originally covered in green morrocan leather.
Object ID
W.1936.001.015
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.)
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.
White ribbon. In black letters: "Paradise Club./ ---/ Pennsylvania's/ Favorites./ (seal of PA)/ For President./ JAS. BUCHANAN./ For Vice President./ JNO. C. BRECKINRIDGE"
Rectangular top inset with brown/black leather. Molded edge, straight flat sides. Two longer sides have two drawers, each with two round concave areas with small knobs at center. Four legs with bun-and-cylinder turned feet. Legs taper down to feet with two buns terminating on the smaller bun foot.
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)
Green and black Rock-A-Way carriage. Carriage is to be pulled by a 2-horse team. Green body with black accents. Four black leather roll-down windows, secured in rolled position by black leather straps with brass buckles. Interior has two bench seats; one facing
The design of Buchanan's carriage allows up to four passengers to ride inside and provides space for one or two drivers (outside). When the carriage doors are closed, a flap covers the steps to protect them from mud and dirt while traveling. When the door is opened, the flap retracts to reveal a clean step.
Provenance
James Buchanan
Sold by Buchanan's Estate in 1868
In 1908 owned by Richard P. McGrann of Lancaster, PA who had restored it in the 1880s.
McGrann gifted it to - Katherine K. Stewart, daugheter to Elise Foster Cassatt Stewart & William P. Stewart. Granddaughter to Maria Lois Buchanan Cassatt and Alexander Johnston Cassatt.
The carriage was sold at the auction house of George F. Adams in 1963 to the James Buchanan Foundation.
1.) Collins, Herbert Ridgeway, 'Presidents on Wheels', Bonaza Books: New York, nd. 2.) The Museums at Stony Brook, 'The Carriage Collection', The Museums at Stony Brook: New York, 1986. 3.) Smith, Don. 'The Pecularities of the Presidents', Ohio. 4.) Edit
Height (ft)
9
Width (ft)
6
Depth (ft)
12
Condition
Excellent
Condition Date
2022-12-07
Object ID
W.1989.087.001
Notes
1970 Amos Lapp's Carriage Works, Intercourse, PA refinished original springs, wheels, chassis, and body panels. Fabric top and upholstery were replaced. Had been refinished and painted black c. 1885-1908.
Color print of Wheatland farm showing house surrounded by trees, fronted by two circular driveways, white fence, small spring at lower right corner. At back line of trees is a fence; back right is a white stable, two horses, and cow. To left, orchard. Black and white medallion of James Buchanan at top of print, taken from William McMaster's portrait of James Buchanan.
Color lithograph of Wheatland and grounds with seated Buchanan. Below: "Wheatland/the Country Residence of the Hon. James Buchanan, situated neat the City of Lancaster, Penn." "Drawn by J. F. Reigart...entered recording to Act of Congress in the year 1856 by J. F. Reigart, in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania." Lith. L.N. Rosenthal cor. 5th & Chestnut, Phila.
J. F. Reigart, lithographer. Published by Edwin Clark.
Provenance
Information in object file states that the conservation and reframing of the piece was done by Lancaster Galleries in 2005. The cost was underwritten by Mrs. Dorothy B. Reynolds in memory of George K. Reynolds, Jr.
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.
