One of two side chairs that loosely follows the 18th century Louis XVI design. Both chairs have gilt bronze beading and foliate ornament outlines on the back crest and horizontal shaped-splat while highlighting the apron and ring turning of the front legs. The seats are upholstered.
One of two Louis XVI upholstered armchairs. Both chairs have gilt and bronze beading and foliate ornament décor on their crests, arms, uprights and aprons. All four legs are surmounted by foliate-decorated blocks transitioning to an urn-shape and ring and beaded ball turnings. They transition to reeds in the middle tapering to additional ring and ball turnings that terminate on brass casters.
One of two Louis XVI upholstered armchairs. Both chairs have gilt and bronze beading and foliate ornament décor on their crests, arms, uprights and aprons. All four legs are surmounted by foliate-decorated blocks transitioning to an urn-shape and ring and beaded ball turnings. They transition to reeds in the middle tapering to additional ring and ball turnings that terminate on brass casters.
Silver serviing spoon with the silver mark for Philadelphia silversmiths Bailey & Co. and Christmas 1864 engraved on the handle accompanied be an engraving on the back of the handle that reads J.B. from H.R.L. (James Buchanan from Harriet Rebecca Lane.) 136 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
Provenance
Lane, Harriet R.
Christmas gift to Buchanan, James
To Johnston, Harriet Lane
To Lane, John Newton (son of James B. Lane) To Fay, Patty Lane (JB Lane daughter)
To Sebrell, Patty Lane Fay (JB Lane granddaughter)
Originally Bailey & Co, the company was founded by Joseph Trowbridge Bailey and Andrew B. Kitchen. It was located at 136 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1840 Joseph’s brother Eli Westcott Bailey, a New York City jeweler and importer hurt financially by the Panic of 1837, came to Philadelphia and entered the firm. The name continued as Bailey & Kitchen. When Joseph died, Eli became the senior partner of Bailey & Co. until he retired in 1867.
Length (cm)
22.86
Length (ft)
0.75
Length (in)
9
Object ID
W.1998.001.003
Notes
Originally Bailey & Co, the company was founded by Joseph Trowbridge Bailey and Andrew B. Kitchen. It was located at 136 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1840 Joseph’s brother Eli Westcott Bailey, a New York City jeweler and importer hurt financially by the Panic of 1837, came to Philadelphia and entered the firm. The name continued as Bailey & Kitchen. When Joseph died, Eli became the senior partner of Bailey & Co. until he retired in 1867.
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.
Benjamin E. Heller received the chair from his maternal grandparents, Eberhard Lamparter and his wife Gertrude Hoffman Weidel. This chair and one matching chair were used in Wheatland and when their condition deteriorated they were given to Miss Shirley who worked at the mansion as a domestic servant. Miss Shirley took the chairs to a family friend, Eberhard Lamparter, who repaired them; his wife, Gertrude Hoffman Weidel decorated the new cushions with needlepoint designs. Miss Shirley gave this chair to the Lamparters as a gift; the Lamparters bequested it to their grandson, Benjamin E. Heller, the donor.
Ca. 1850 maple side chair with foliate carved crest and horizontal splat with floral motif carving along top edge. Back side rails surmount saber back legs. Upholstered cushion is fastened to side rails, back and serpentine-shaped apron with rosette decorative tack nails. The upholstery fabric has floral needlepoint decor with a bird center design.
Easgles Nest completed conservation on the image and frame.
Height (cm)
36.195
Height (ft)
1.1875
Height (in)
14.25
Length (cm)
6.985
Length (ft)
0.2291666667
Length (in)
2.75
Width (cm)
41.275
Width (ft)
1.3541666667
Width (in)
16.25
Dimension Details
Dimensions are for frame
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-07-21
Object ID
W.1995.015.001
Notes
Based on the pointed waistline of her bodice, this photograph was likely taken in Washington DC while she was the First Lady and before the year 1860. This style was at the height of fashion in the mid-1850s and quickly disappeared in the year 1860, when the straight waistline came into fashion.
Daguerreotype of Harriet Lane. Full bust length view, facing right. Her hair is coiled and pinned back. She is wearing a dark jacket over a white blouse, with a white lace collar. Broach at her neck and long earrings are prominent. Gold matting around image. Image mounted inside of book-type case of black leather and red velvet inner lining. Two hook clasps.
This daguerreotype represents the earliest known image of Harriet Lane, niece of President James Buchanan. This likeness might have been photographed ca. 1845, Harriet Lane would have been about fifteen years old.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Walnut side chairs featuring intricately carved scroll design on the cresting rail. A solid splat extends through the center of the back and joins a horizontal member above the rear seat rail. The front of the skirt is plain with a serpentine shape surmounting fully formed Louis XV cabriole legs with floral motif carvings at the top. Upholstered seat originally had leather; current seat cover is black fabric.
Empire era maple side chair; scroll cut and carved crest with pierced hand-hold at crest. Rail with horizontal splat, upholstered seat terminating with cabriole legs.
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.
