American Rococo Revival Walnut Sofa. The serpentine back centered by a rose and shell scrolled carved crest, the back joined to closed arms, with a serpentine apron and raised on cabriole legs terminating in casters, silk velvet upholstery.
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)
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.
Rococo Revival walnut upholstered Salon Parlor Chair. Carved roses on crest and apron, Cabriole legs terminating in castors. Upholstered in gold damask fabric, chair back is button tufted.
Provenance
Owned by a Buchanan family member
To Elizabeth Hensel Nauman (Dorothy Flinn - donor)
Victorian half-barrel back, button-tufted leather upholstered chair. Walnut frame is exposed along the skirt that has a slight outward curves at the front surmounting foliate carved legs terminating on brass casters.
4/4/1939 Loaned by Brooke-Memo Agreement 6/3/1955 Talbot Speer to Mr. Prentis-Offer of Donation. Letter said 'Buchanan's favorite [chair] that he sat upon to the time of his death. 6/28/1957 Claire Parker to Robert Finnegan-Chair 'had been in Library, considered Buchanan's favorite; used to sit in front of fireplace.
American Empire wardrobe has a two sided case with an over hanging flared cornice supported by four capped, ring and urn-shaped feet. The two front doors have double panels, with a raised 'V' molding on the inside edge. The left side interior has a hook and bar at top back and a double hook lower on the side. The right side has shelves with the lower shelf surmounting two drawers.
Serpentine-back, enclosed arm sofa, Louis XV (Rococo Revival), has yellow upholstery, finger-molded exposed frame of rosewood or mahogany and a rounded back crested with central cartouche of high relief carved fruit and leafage. Outline of rounded back slopes down to rounded shoulders that descend and curve back in to arms that enclose the sitter. Low arm rests have upholstered arm pads. Cyma-curved arm supports extend to short cabriole legs at front. Square, curving legs at back. Serpentine seat front and serpentine lower outline of seat frame.
Serpentine-back, enclosed-arm sofa, Louis XV style (Rococo Revival), has yellow upholstery and a finger-molded exposed frame of rosewood. At top of central arch is a raised crest with high relief carved fruit and leafage, flanked by a volute on each side. Frame flows in a continuous line into arched shoulders that dramatically curve and drop to a low arm rest wrapped with upholstery, exposing a hand grip. The front arm support leads to the short cabriole leg; knee with carved shell. Seat front is serpentine and the exposed frame below has a swell at the bottom and is decorated with a thin raised carved strip. Was likely part of the new suite of furniture ordered by Sophie Plitt for retiring President James Buchanan and his niece, Harriet Lane, in 1861.
Walnut rocking chair has caned back and seat. Frame of oval back is finger-molded and is connected to seat frame by two curving legs. Cyma-curve short, low arms connect oval back to seat, with foliate carving at top end. Seat frame is a rounded "D" shape with round outside edge. Ring-turned legs are all connected by a baluster-turned stretcher and sit on rockers with front ends barely extending beyond the front legs.
Rosewood bed with walnut, poplar, and pine. Headboard higher than footboard, but identical in shape. Arched crest with c-curved finish. This is repeated with molding below and on footboard. Molding is cyma-curved and appears on the outside of footboard and inside of headboard. The top of each post is capped with a round finial that transitions to squat bun above a smooth cylinder above a ring and ball shape that transitions to ring and vase surmounting an octagonal post terminates on bun feet Scroll cut brackets connect the posts to the side rails that feature cyma-curved molding.
Bed is higher at headboard than at footboard. Footboard height is 42.625'.
Condition
Excellent
Condition Date
2022-11-10
Condition Notes
Restoration done in 1992-1993 by David Weaver, cabinetmaker, Quarryville, PA. Restoration of rosewood.
Object ID
W.1992.001.039
Notes
Harriet had this custom built with large dimensions to accomodate her Uncle James Buchanan's size. It was intended for his use whenever he would visit her at her Baltimore, Maryland home.
