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
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.)
Oval top empire-style table with side skirt. Skirt has beaded top and bottom. Table divides to accomodate four leaves. Four-sided reeded central pillar with two turned feet underneath and four c-scrolled supports. Solid base with four radial, long legs w
Undocumented stories claim that this table was ordered by William Jenkins in 1828, the year he had the Wheatland mansion built, and that it has conveyed to each subsequent owner with the deed. The table dates from the first quarter of the nineteenth century and might attributed to the Bachman cabinetmakers.
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 (in)
34.312
Width (in)
18
Depth (in)
16.125
Condition
Excellent
Condition Date
2022-11-21
Condition Notes
Reupolstered; James Buchanan Foundation records indicate the seats were originally covered in green morrocan leather.
Object ID
W.1936.001.015.2
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.)
Sideboard. Heavy, lion-paw feet at front. Free pillars at side with ionic capitals. Bottom 2/3 rounded at front sides with two drawers each side, top one shallower than other with keyhole surround and cut-glass knobs. Two central doors with central panel
Purchased by Frederick Wolf at public sale at Wheatland at time of James Buchanan's death (exact date unknown). Passed to step-grandchild, Mabel Bair, on his death. Purchased by Rorhbaughs in 1974 from estate of Mabel Bair.
Marble Fragment from Original Tomb of James Buchanan
Description
Fragment from James Buchanan's tomb in Woodward Hill Cemetery, Lancaster, PA. Rectangular base with relief carving of three oak leaves on one short branch with an acorn on top. White marble. On back: paper with handwritten ink: 'a piece of waste marble from (the?) Tomb of Hon. James Buchanan.
Provenance
Found by donor at gravesite. From original tombstone. Gift of Jim McMullin per Pat Clarke 4/5/2023
Plaque to commemorate James Buchanan's Presidency of the United States, as well as the Chairs he held while serving as a Free Mason in Lodge Number 43, Lancaster, PA.
Spring loaded metal frame for parachute made by Pennsylvania Scale Company and Eagle Parachute Company, Lancaster, PA . "This mechanism released a small chute which in turn released the mechanism in the main 'chute.
During WW II, The PA. Scale Company in Bareville, under a subcontract employed about 5 men to solder small pieces on the ends of this parachute opener. Eagle supplied the pieces and PA Scale Company did only the soldering. After this work was done, the openers were sent back to the North Queen factory for further assembly." (Written by George H. Harsh, Lititz, PA,)
Cast iron ashtray in rectangular form, sloping sides, sunken top with raised sides having a textured surface with two corner indentations for cigarettes. Opposite end of indentation is a grouping of four geese, fully formed, attached to top surface with screws. Entire surface is bronzed with a pattern of oblique stripes on sides.
Marked "144" on bottom. The Hubley catalog "Metal Art Goods" lists this ashtray as #144 and named "Goosie Goosie Gander." The description notes it has "an unusual bronze finish".
Provenance
Owned by J. Roland Gilbert (1888-1940) and inherited by his daughter the donor (1916-1992). Donor writes: "acquired in the late '20s or early '30s and 'possibly' a gift from Mr. Joseph Breneman, a Hubley Exec." J. Roland Gilbert was president of Lancaster Press Inc. and general manager of the New Era Publishing Co.
Buttonhook for gloves and collars. Made of stamped steel handle and heavy gauge wire loop hook at one end and oval shaped tip at other end. Mid-section of handle is flattened on both sides with raised letters: one side is "SOUTTER, BUCHANAN & YOUNG." and 2nd side is "FOR GLOVES AND COLLARS".
This Lancaster City business was Dry Good, Fancy Goods, Cloaks and Millinery. Listed in City Directories 1897-1909, then Buchanan & Young for several years, followed by Buchanan & Brown circa 1916. All at the same North Queen Street Address.
