American Empire straight-front sideboard with crotch-grain veneered oblong gallery. The upper front has a shallow overhang with a wide center drawer and two replacement glass pulls. Front also has two end drawers with original spiral cut glass pulls. Below the frieze is a double-door cupboard flanked by single door cupboards faced with crotch-grain veneer with slightly sunk oblong panels, each fitted with brass-keyhole surrounds. The freeze surmounts four turned and reeded pilasters with bull-nose trim along the apron. The piece stands on eight turned legs terminating on bun feet.
Provenance
James Buchanan
To Harriet Lane Johnston
Purchased by Julius Friedrick Sachse at a Lancaster Auction
Bequeathed to Samuel B. Sadtler, Great Grandson to Mr. Sachse
One of two matching silverplate bases (1b-2b) that are paired with two round Sandwich cut glass salt cellars (1a-2a). The short silver plate bases terminate on four ball feet situated at each corner. The square bases are hollow and each have an opening upon which the glass salt cellars rest. Silver bases have a ribbed shoulder decor rounded up to neck of base. Neck has two bands with slanting lines, repeated around outside of flare.
Rococo Revival gas chandeliers attributed to Christian Cornelius, a Dutch silversmith who founded the Cornelius lighting business in 1827. It became Cornelius, Baker, and Company in 1835. By the 1850s, it operated a factory on Columbia Avenue. They began by making brass lighting fixtures and later zinc fixtures and sculptures.
Rococo Revival gas chandeliers attributed to Christian Cornelius, a Dutch silversmith who founded the Cornelius lighting business in 1827. It became Cornelius, Baker, and Company in 1835. By the 1850s, it operated a factory on Columbia Avenue. They began by making brass lighting fixtures and later zinc fixtures and sculptures.
Round stamped and hollow metal tieback head with round raised central rosette and five heart-shaped petals surrounded by five larger heart-shaped scroll-edged petals. Tieback attaches to a wall via a long metal post.
John Wedg Wood Ironstone in Chapoo pattern. White earthenware with cobalt blue transferware. Plant design around rim. Tree/pagoda scene on plate face. Rim is scalloped.
John Wedg Wood Ironstone in Chapoo pattern. White earthenware with cobalt blue transferware. Octagonal shaped rim with a rectangle length and width. Tree/pagoda/nature scene on inside face of platter with flower designs around rim.
Manufacturer of earthenware at Hadderidge Bank, Burslem and then at Woodland Street, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent
John Wood either already had or, more probably adopted, a middle name 'Wedg' - this rather conveniently caused his marks to been mistaken for the more famous Josiah Wedgwood
One trade directory (1841 Pigot) lists his second name as 'Wedge' but all others correctly give 'Wedg'. John Wedg Wood died, age 43, in May 1857.
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.