This red leather lap desk has brass hinges and pressed brass side handles. A brass name plate is centered on the sloped top engraved with the name "Mrs. E. B. Brinckerhoff". Inside under the lid is a red leather document pouch attached to the lid. The sloped base has a felt covered writing surface that folds down. At the top are two square pockets; one to hold pen nibs and the other an inkwell. An oblong-shaped pocket with a wood lid is designed to hold pens.
Hand-painted porcelain bowl. Chinese export porcelain. Central medallion painted inside bottom. Decorative border around inner edge of boal. Entire exterior of bowl painted in multi-color designs, scenes containing figures, flowers, birds. Similar to 4 saucers.
Provenance
Bowl owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
Oval-shaped bowl with lid. On 1 inch base or foot with 2 gold-painted handles and indentation for spoon. Lid also has indentation for spoon. Large mushroom shaped gold painted finial. Detailed and multi-colored birds, flowers,a foliage on outer surfaces of bowl and lid. chinese export porcelain.
Provenance
Bowl owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
One of 16 glass finger bowls. Frosted glass except where clear shield near the upper rolled edge. Shallow bowl with slightly convex bottom on inside. Shield design is etched with an engraved old English letter 'J'. Eight-point star impressed into center of bowl's exterior base.
Asian Design Sugar Bowl Owned by Harriet Lane Johnston
Description
Majolica tin glazed earthenware sugar bowl. Compressed-round bowl with very short neck and low foot ring. Domed fitted lid with finial of inverted acorn shape. Bowl and lid both hand-painted with decoration on pale greenish yellow color, with faint wispy vining branches done with delicate brush strokes and daubs of ochre for leaves. Additional decoration of larger scale flowers or flower clusters and a moth-like insect. Rim painted ochre as well as a band on pedestal with two stripes.
Underside of base has very stylized hand-painted cockerel mark. This bowl has same decoration as 2014.002.17&.18. Attributed to the Cantagalli family pottery factory in Florence, Italy - likely the period when Ulisse Cantagalli succeeded his father in 1878 and started to produce highly decorative Italian ceramics in the Renaissance style. This pottery style was hugely popular at this time in English-speaking countries. Ulisse died in 1901 but his family continued the business.
Provenance: Bowl owned by Harriet Lane, then descent within family to donor.
Provenance
Sugar bowl owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
Asian Design Compote Owned by Harriet Lane Johnston
Description
Majolica tin glazed earthenware compote. Round dish with serpentine rim mounted on a short pedestal base. Hand-painted decoration is pale greenish yellow color overall with delicate vining branches done with delicate brush strokes and daubs of ochre for leaves. Additional decoration of larger scale flowers or flower clusters and a moth-like insect; Three larger flowers at center. Rim painted ochre as well as bands of ochre on pedestal, along with striping,
Underside of pedestal base has abstract hand-painted mark quite different from the expected cockerel mark, although this dish otherwise matches 2014.002.18. Nevertheless attributed to the Cantagalli family pottery factory in Florence, Italy - likely the period when Ulisse Cantagalli succeeded his father in 1878 and started to produce highly decorative Italian ceramics in the Renaissance style. This pottery style was hugely popular at this time in English-speaking countries. Ulisse died in 1901 but his family continued the business.
Provenance: Dish owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
Provenance
Compote owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
One of three demitasse cups. Inside of cup is lined with gilt decor that extends over the cup's rim. The rim gilding connects to two vertical gilt bands and a band around the base forming a frame around varied handpainted landscape scenes; the cup handle is also gilded. The remainder of the outer body has a solid pink hue.
Nast or Darte Freres factory. Jean-Pierre Feuillet, designer.
Mark applied over glaze, therefore some of the ojects no longer have the designer's signature
Height (cm)
6.35
Height (ft)
0.2083333333
Height (in)
2.5
Depth (cm)
5.3975
Depth (ft)
0.1770833333
Depth (in)
2.125
Diameter (cm)
6.35
Diameter (ft)
0.2083333333
Diameter (in)
2.5
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2023-04-14
Condition Notes
Inside lip of the cup has a large chip missing.
Object ID
W.1963.002.025
Notes
In 1995 the JBF staff assigned the Object ID W.95.69.2 to this Compote as a FIC probably because original paper records were not found.
In March 2023 the paper file has been found that identifies Patty Lane Fayer Eldridge as the donor in September 1963. Mrs. James W. Eldridge was the daughter to Patty Lane Fay and the great niece to Harriet Lane Johnston. Patty Lane Fay was daughter to James Buchanan Lane, the first-born to Jane Buchanan Lane, President James Buchanan's sister.
Butter dish made up of three parts Base is a basket-like woven design, two ring handles and a holder for a knife. Tray that fits into base with space below. Punched design in diamond shape and large hole in center. Lid is dome shaped with small knob with a lip band design handle on top.
Handpainted dish of Chinese export porcelain. Center design of six Chinese ladies outside home playing board game. Four sections of rim repeat the same stylized design of fish, flowers, scrolled documents, etc.
Provenance
Dish owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
One of a set of five handpainted Chinese export porcelain plates. Gold edge. Center medallion of man walking on water while carrying a woman (?). Surrounding decoration has four medallions bordered with scrolling and surrounded by flowers. Within two medallions is a scene of three people sitting on floor at a table. Remaining two designs have floral designs. Glazed except for foot ring.
Provenance
Dish owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
One of a set of five handpainted Chinese export porcelain plates. Gold edge. Center medallion of man walking on water while carrying a woman (?). Surrounding decoration has four medallions bordered with scrolling and surrounded by flowers. Within two medallions is a scene of three people sitting on floor at a table. Remaining two designs have floral designs. Glazed except for foot ring.
Provenance
Dish owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
One of a set of five handpainted Chinese export porcelain plates. Gold edge. Center medallion of man walking on water while carrying a woman (?). Surrounding decoration has four medallions bordered with scrolling and surrounded by flowers. Within two medallions is a scene of three people sitting on floor at a table. Remaining two designs have floral designs. Glazed except for foot ring.
Provenance
Dish owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
One of a set of five handpainted Chinese export porcelain plates. Gold edge. Center medallion of man walking on water while carrying a woman (?). Surrounding decoration has four medallions bordered with scrolling and surrounded by flowers. Within two medallions is a scene of three people sitting on floor at a table. Remaining two designs have floral designs. Glazed except for foot ring.
Provenance
Dish owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
One of a set of five handpainted Chinese export porcelain plates. Gold edge. Center medallion of man walking on water while carrying a woman (?). Surrounding decoration has four medallions bordered with scrolling and surrounded by flowers. Within two medallions is a scene of three people sitting on floor at a table. Remaining two designs have floral designs. Glazed except for foot ring.
Provenance
Dish owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
Handmade rectangular grater crudely fashioned with tinned sheet iron and having 14 staggered slits of 1.25" width and raised edges for cutting. All four edges are folded to back, but the two long sides are rolled over wire to stiffen length of tool.
Crudely fashioned tin tool has wear and imperfections at blades and back corners. Abrasions and corrosion scattered overall. Peeling paint or corrosion.
A) Inkwell, square mold-blown leaded glass. Thick walls, sides molded with thick strands lazily undulating in a diagonal direction. Raised neck and deep well.
B) Stand is a cast brass tray shaped like a picture frame without center picture. Two projecting handles. All supported by four scroll-molded feet attached to bottom of tray corners with screws. Entire top surface is decorated profusely with mostly scrolling leafage.
Glass is very good with expected wear on bottom edges. Metal stand has darkened surfaces except for top area where glass inkwell fits. Spotty stains on top.
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.
