Rectangular tray. White porcelain with gold trim, raised pink tray with support openings for a white ink well and a white pounce sander. Scalloped edges form handles on both ends of the raised tray and continues along the oblong tray that held pens. Scalloped edges feature gilded edges on white background bordered by a wide cobalt blue band gilt floral decor. The center of the pen tray is white with a pink, blue and white flower motif.
Provenance
James Buchanan
To Rev. Edward Y. Buchanan (brother)
To Lois Buchanan Cassatt (daughter/JB niece)
To Edward Buchanan Cassatt (son/JB great nephew)
To Lois Buchanan Cassatt Thayer (daughter/JB great, great niece)
One of two glass wells with metal lids, that fit down into base of the stand; ink well is squat with ten facets around hinged lid that features a petal pattern and finial.
Box when opened becomes a lap desk. Two inside lids are covered in green baize, space for papers underneath lid. At one end of desk is a groove for pens, ink well, and sander. Glass ink well in one compartment but sander is missing. On outside of box is
Provenance
James Buchanan
To Harriet Lane Johnston
Purchased at auction Mrs. Lorman's Great-Grandmother in 1884
Mrs. Lorman also dontated 'Water Pitcher'- as of 1-4-2004 the water pitcher location remains unknown
Lapboard received by Buchanan as an 1843 Christmas gift. Purchased by Mr. Lorman's great grandmother at an 1884 auction for Harriet Lane Johnston's household items in Philadelphia.
Gold pocketwatch belonging to James Buchanan. Simply designed, largely unadorned pocketwatch -- with only worn initials of three letters, only the third, "B," is legible on one side. Watch face is white with black Roman numerals . Small inset with seconds. Other side of watch opens to reveal two openings to wind watch. Engraved around openings "No. 16943/ Time Keeper/ Lewis Ladomus & Co/ Philadelphia Pa." On inside of cover "From/ James Buchanan/ May 9th 1865" Stamped E. T. & Co./ 18K/16943." Golden chain clipped to bow at top of stem with Albert or t-bar at other end, to attach to button hole on vest. Chain links are short and thick, giving the appearance of thick golden cord . Lighter, cooler toned gold than the watch.
Provenance
The gold watch was left by James Buchanan to his brother Edward Y. Buchanan through his last will and testament. Edward youngest daughter, Alice Cunningham Buchanan inherited from her father. Alice married Maskell Ewing and they had a total of 6 children; the youngest son, Buchanan Ewing, inherited the gold watch. Buchanan Ewing’s grandson, Edward “Ted” Ewing inherited the watch. Ted visited Wheatland two years ago in late spring. Upon meeting him, Ted was impressed by the high percentage of family artifacts on display. He mentioned that he owned a gold watch that had been handed down through the family from the Reverend Edward Buchanan and he wondered if we would want it. Pat gave him an enthusiastic yes as his answer. Ted called Pat in April 2016 and asked if he was remembered; Pat said “of course.” Ted added that he had found the watch and that he and his siblings were in agreement to donate it to LancasterHistory.org. The youngest sibling in the family would donate it because she lives in Allentown, PA. Jessie Ewing Snyder visited Wheatland on October 1, 2016 and donated the gold watch to the museum.
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.
Crotch-grained veneer, central urn finial flanked by two s-curve scroll carvings, white enameled metal dial is arched. Chapter ring has Arabic numerals in black with minutes written in intervals of five around face. Small circular seconds dial.
Provenance
Owned by Buchanan. Remained at Wheatland through Harriet's, Willson's and Rettew's ownership. Sold at auction of Mary Rettew's estate to Donor (Suter)
Black Japanese box completely lacquered, inside and out, with removable lid (b) and two drawers (c,d) with metal handles that swivel 180 degrees. Top drawer is shallow, bottom drawer is deep. The rounded top front is painted with fine gold pattern, surrounded by gold border.
Various feathers painted on sides. All edges are painted gold. 3 birds painted on top with fine gold lines crossing at angles to create a mesh pattern.
Missing piece out of top part on side.
a. 100 stiff paper cards with a single black shadowed letter on one side of each card for each of the 26 letters of the English alphabet.
Measurements above for 35.75a (cards) each is 1.125 long x 1.25 wide (100 cards)
35.75b is lid
35.75c (top drawer) = 4' x 8.25" x 5/8 inch
35.75d (bottom drawer) = 4" x 8.25" x 1.5"
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2003-07-17
Condition Notes
2 3/4" length gap in side of lid where a piece is missing. Piece of wood missing on inside edge of bottom drawer (35.75d). Some chipping and cracking of lacquer, pieces of veneer missing from drawer fronts. One corner foot missing from base.
Object ID
W.1935.075.a-d
Notes
Said to have been given to Buchanan by Japanese delegation
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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.
This sterling silver coffeepot has a hinged angular and oblong shaped lid with a finial top surmounting a flaired angular neck adorned with a Greek key above a bulging torso. The spout is square with a goose neck shape and flat opening. The pot handle is angular and square with ribbed band decor. The pedstal style base is supported by four ball feet.
See B.R. Howard Treatment Report for additional information.
Provenance
James Buchanan
To - Edward Y. Buchanan
To - One of Edward's children
To - One of Edward's Grandchildren
To - Mrs. Robert Maguire (Pauline) great, great granddaughter of Edward Y. Buchanan
Also engraved with 'This Belonged to James Buchanan Fifteenth President of United States' on bottom. (done by donors just before donation to Wheatland.)
Height (in)
10.75
Width (in)
13
Depth (in)
5.75
Object ID
W.1992.037.001
Notes
Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Maguire of Shoreham, Vermont, delivered by Mrs. John Thayer of West Chester, PA. The Maguires also donated a pair of silver sugar tongs with acorn-shaped ends. (Accession #92.38)
Open scroll work on rectangular music stand; elaborate lyre-shaped pedal support with two pedals. Three massive legs with ten-faceted tapered legs. Sides of keyboard area scrolled with foliate carving. Around bottom is rope-like molding.
Ames, Kenneth L [ed], 'Victorian Furniture: Essays from a Victorian Society Autumn Symposium', Victorian Society in America, 1982.
Height (in)
37.437
Length (in)
98.5
Width (in)
57
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-11-17
Condition Notes
adjusted' piano 5/16/1949
Last cleaning & tuning September 2006
Several strings are broken and the sound board no longer holds its tuning.
Object ID
W.1936.001.004
Notes
Jonas Chickering (1798-1853), whose firm made the piano, began his career as a cabinetmaker in Ipswich, New Hampshire. In 1818 at the age of twenty, he went to Boston and apprenticed himself in one of the town's cabinet shops.
