Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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This collection has not been cataloged. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit. Please use digital images and transcriptions when available.
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Rococo Revival writing desk. High relief carved arching crest with acanthus leaf motif flanked by matching finials. A cherub relief face with wings in a recessed arch is seen below the crest, surmounting a storage cabinet decorated with more highly carved foliate and scroll motifs along both rails. The cabinet door is decorated with inlaid woods that form a vase with flowers. The writing desk has a fold-down/pull-out writing surface and four drawers that surmount a central drawer and four highly carved foliate and scroll adorned cabriole legs that terminate on casters and are connected by supports to central finials.
Several broken finials and high relief carvings under central cabinet
Object ID
W.1936.008.001
Notes
From the account of Major Andre, who visited Wheatland in 1888, it can be surmised that the escritoire stood in the sitting room or study. This room was located to the left of the front door in the central section of the house.
oil painting on canvas is of Harriet Lane & Henry Elliot Johnston's two sons who they lost to rheumatic fever. The artist captured the boys' images at the age of their deaths based on family photographs. The imagery of the afterlife abounds in this painting including the boys seated on the edge of a cliff of rock, the clouds gathering in the skies and the bright light on the horizon above the water. The painting is mounted in a gilt cove and scoop picture frame. Both boys are holding their favorite items. These objects and the styles of their garments are meant to be reflective of their personalities. The oldest, James Buchanan Johnston was 14 years-old; he is seated on the left holding a book and is wearing a black velvet fauntleroy jacket, vest and shorts with a white collar and blue bowtie. Henry Elliot Johnston, Jr. was 12 years-old; he is seated on the right holding a toy pistol and is wearing the Johnston Scottish tartan kilt with his feathered Glengarry bonnet, his sporran and Ghillie brogues.
Remains of green silk at both ends over linen. Backing appears to be natural color linen with an open weave wool decorated with needlepoint floral-design repeated about ten times down length. Red rose/lavender rose/blue violets, with green leaves also shadings of brown.
One of three linen handtowels. White damask with thinly hemmed edges (c. .125'). Meander border with foliate design and center panels of ivy leaf border, meander dividers, and strawberry vines. 'HLJ' at bottom center in white with pink circle accents.
One of three linen handtowels. White damask with thinly hemmed edges (c. .125'). Meander border with foliate design and center panels of ivy leaf border, meander dividers, and strawberry vines. 'HLJ' at bottom center in white with pink circle accents.
One of twelve linen napkins. White damask with hunting scenes on outside. Stag hunting with horses and dogs. Scene on inner side of napkin is duck hunting. At one corner, embroidered in white is 'HLJ' with the Johnston crest of an arm and dagger.
