Extremely large Japanese porcelain bowl. White ground with blue decoration. Footed with sea waves on base and three rows of slanted lines on neck of base. Outside of bowl has cranes and bamboo depicted in white with blue ground color.
This bowl was presented as a gift of state to President Buchanan in 1860 by the Japanese delegates representing the Tokugawa shogunate government. The bowl was created by Jihei Kawamoto as one of two bowls for sake. It reflects the Emperor's personal symbol and his regard for James Buchanan marking a new and firm friendship between Japan and the United States.
Provenance
Following the assasination of Abraham Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln marked the bowl as an item to sell to pay for some of the debts she was struggling under. Her friend and advisor, George Riggs advised her not to sell the bowl. He made her an offer for the bowl and she sold it to him. Mr. Rigg's daughter, Jane, inherited the bowl and eventually bequeatherd it to Miss Mary F. McMullen who in turn bequeathed it to Mr. J.B. McMullen. A distant relative of James Buchanan, Mr. Wylie Buchanan, purchased the bowl from McMullen and donated it to the Wheatland collection in 1960.
Belonged to James Buchanan as President. Left white house sometime after and was in possession of Geo. Washington Riggs by mid-May 1865. Remained in Riggs family until 1930 when given to a family servent Mary McMullen.
James Buchanan, Fifteenth President of the United States.'
Description
Color lithograph of James Buchanan (a bust view). Black jacket, white shirt, white bow tie. Rose-colored drapes with gold trim in the background. White pillar in background. Caption: 'James Buchanan, Fifteenth President of the United States.'
Black and white lithograph of James Buchanan. Bust view. Oval. Buchanan wears a black jacket and vest, and a white shirt. Oval likeness surrounded by swirls and four smaller engravings of books, soldiers, a man giving a speech, and a carriage scene. 'Jam
Black and white lithograph of James Buchanan. Full body view. Buchanan wears black pants, vest, and jacket, and a white shirt. Hand on book, resting on cloth-covered table. Two additional books on table. Chair with eagle in background, two pillars in bac
Black and white lithograph of James Buchanan. Full body view. Buchanan wears black pants, vest, and jacket, and a white shirt. Hand on book, resting on cloth-covered table. Two additional books on table. Chair with eagle in background. Two pillars in bac
Black and white lithograph of James Buchanan. Buchanan sitting in chair, holding papers in his right hand. He wears a black jacket, black vest, white shirt, and white bow tie. 'James Buchanan.'
Lithograph of 8 Democratic Presidents. Head shots. Martin Van Buren William Henry Harrison Franklin Pierce Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore John Tyler James Polk James Buchanan Written in pencil in top right corner: '$2'
