The walnut frame of the chair is exposed. The crest is flat and squared. The upholstered back has a slight taper. Three quarters down the back, the walnut arms curve outward with partial upholstered rests, The back frame continues below the arms in a gentle outward curve to form the side rails of the upolstered seat. The seat is an elongated, slightly tapered rectangle with a straight apron. The arms are supported with back curved uprights terminating at the cushioned arm rests with a foliate carved scroll design. The front legs are both ornate, tapered reeded columns terminating in brass casters; the back legs are square and canted terminating on brass casters.
Provenance
George B. Willson
To - Mary Willson Rettew
To - The James Buchanhan Foundation LancasterHistory
Re-upholstered in Black Horsehair -date unknown Seat and back had been covered in beige self-stripe damask with blue braid. Unknown if this was original.
Orange-pink colored cherry wood table. Oblong rectangular top with rounded, carved ends. Top unlocks to tilt vertically. Turned spindle with egg-shaped center and three spreading legs. Circular brass locking mechanism on underside of top.
Made by Mr. Willson's gardener, John More, from a cherry tree on the Wheatland grounds.
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)
Stand: Wrought iron, scroll and foliate design. Finger hold at top, two curved arms to hold tools six inches below finger hold at top. Long, thin support has stylized leaf motif. Base is features a molded high relief foliate design.Support attached to base with a nut and bolt fastener. Shovel: Long thin round and straight arm topped with brass handle in spool-turned graduated style with knob at end. Arm is flared and curved to attach at the shovel, which is thin an flared at the mouth. Tongs: Double arm, round at bottom, flared and flattened into disks. Top of arms curved where attached to handle at central brass knob; one arm is on pivot, the other stationary. Brass handle in spool turned style with acorn knob motif at end.
Bottom is shallow dish comprised of cast gilt spelter to mimic two overlapping oak leaves with stems and acorns. The two 'stems' hold faceted glass ink wells as acorn tops. The lids of each well are faceted and hinged at metal bands around the neck.
Ironstone chamber pot with lid. Body and lid have high gloss blue surface with crane and flora design with a gilded band at the lip that is repeated just above the foot. Handle is white a rope design at top with gilded highlights. Chamber pot lid has a white cylindrical design with gilded highlights on the handle that is centered horizontally above the lid surface; two rope designs serve as stems that wrap around the handle at opposite of the cylinder and attach it to the lid with gilded highlights. Surface of lid features crane and flora decor.
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.
Horseshoe shaped 'Rest your feet here' in raised letters around outside. Convex, padded cushion, covered with red velvet in center. Underneath is metal and hollow, larger leg inscribed with arrow design, rest tilts down at heel position. Likely owned by George B. Willson.
Tub probably added by George Willson but no documentation to support this. Foundation history says that tub was installed by James Buchanan upon return from the White House, and was a reproduction of a tube that President Fillmore had installed. THIS IS
