One pair of Chippendale brass and iron andirons. Contains large reeded ball at top, three graduated small balls center and large ball at base. Snake turned base with two small balls each side of snake turning. Rear of base small turned ball with double column base.
This pair of American Empire brass andirons feature large turned finials with a mushroom cap. The finials surmount small canisters with turnings at the top and base. The uprights are supported by raised scroll bases on ball feet and a wrought iron back for holding logs.
American empire-transitional Victorian armchair. Walnut frames the upholstered back and crest, arm rests have upholstered cushions terminating in a wide scroll surmounting the seat frame that features a serpentine apron. Brocade front legs feature ring-turnings; back legs are squared and canted. Back has slightly arched crest, back rails join to legs that terminate in casters.
Tester bed. American Empire Style. Heavy vase and ring-turned legs, carved posts with acanthus/tobacco leaf design that terminates in long plain tapered top. Plain slat tester frame. Low, plain foot board that's carved at top. Headboard is high with inse
Donor writes that bed was used by William Norris at Wheatland, where he had 'bachelor quarters' with James Buchanan. This is unlikely because Wheatland was not a boarding house. Norris was a classmate of Buchanan's at Dickenson.
Mahogany sleigh bed. Sleigh-shaped bed with a headboard higher than footboard. Outcurved top rails. Cyma curved footboard. Headboard has side pieces with cyma curves. Low to ground. Side rails have curved top edge. Feet are rounded blocks that are caster
Provenance
Buchanan, James
to Johnston, Harriet Lane (niece)
to Kennedy, May (cousin)
to Taylor, Mrs. Edmund R. (Julia) (May's sister)
to Taylor, Mr. Edmund R. Taylor Jr. (Julia's grandson)
Walnut bed finish bleached by sun exposure, especially on back & headboard and footboard. Minor scratches on the wood througout.
Object ID
W.1989.344.001
Notes
Belonged to James Buchanan and Harriet Lane Johnston. According to letter from donor's wife, 'there is no written authentication of its origin, but my husband received the bed from his grandmother, Mrs. E.R. Taylor of Charles Town, Jefferson County, W. V
Mr. and Mrs. Edmund R. Taylor, Jr. donated a set of 8 linen handtowels marked with Harriet Lane Johnston's monogram and a letter from Francis Scott Key to James Buchanan at the same time of the bed donation. A campaign card was also donated at this time.
The matching sleigh bed is currently (2022) owned by Evelyn Byrd Hutton (evelynbyrdhutton@gmail.com), a sister of Betsy Henry Lehman & daughter to Reginald Buchanan Henry, Jr.
White cotton bedspread. Fringe on three sides. Worked in candlewicking, eight-pointed star in bottom two corners. Design of swagged garlands in layered rows around piece, squarish shape overall. In center, large presidential eagle with outspread wings, s
Cotton bedspread. White on white quilting, square with fringed edging on three sides. Motifs of sunflowers, strawberries and grape vines. Continuous serpentine foliate vine around border. Signed in ink at bottom left corner: 'Mary E Lane; signed in cross-stitch, HRL at top right corner with additional note in ink: "for MS Kennedy 1899."
Mary E. Lane No 2 written in ink in bottom left corner. HRL cross-stitched with "for MS Kennedy 1899'" written in ink at top right corner.
Length (cm)
254
Length (ft)
8.3333333333
Length (in)
100
Width (in)
100
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-11-09
Condition Notes
Some staining.
Object ID
W.1992.015.001
Notes
Since the quilting on this bedspread is too sophisticated for a young girl, it is probable that Jane Buchanan Lane, Mary and Harriet's mother, was the person who made the bedspread. The signatures in ink and cross stitch inform us that sisters, Mary E. and Harriet R. Lane owned the coverlet at different times in their lives. In or before 1899, Harriet added the message that the textile was to be next owned by her maternal cousin, May Selden Kennedy.
Bookcase composed of two sections. The upper cabinet has two hinged doors that latch at center. The shelving is adjustable and both doors feature 12 oblong-shaped glass panes and mullions. The lower cabinet has two hinged wood doors that latch and lock at the center; each door features a square recessed panel.
Provenance
Thomas Potter
To - William Morris Meredith
To - James Buchanan
To - Harriet Lane Johnston
To - John Newton Lane
To - James Buchanan Lane II
To - Thomasina Thomas Lane
To - James Buchanan Foundation
Thomas Potter - 2nd owner of Wheatland
Sold to - William Morris Meredith for $75
Sold to - James Buchanan for $75
Bequeathed to - Harriet Lane Johnston
Bequeathed to - John Newton Lane, Harriet's nephew
Bequeathed to - James Buchanan Lane II, John N. Lane's son
Bequeathed to - Thomasina Thomas Lane, James B. Lane II's spouse
Grained pine bookcase. Ring and bun feet. Has bottom cabinets with double doors, butt-hinged, not knobs or handles. Plain keyholes, central rectangular panels on each door. Upper case has sliding doors with glass, 12 panes each. Six shelves on each side.
This artifact was accessioned twice [36.20 and 89.150]. 89.150 accession form said that artifact has Buchanan ownership, however, only criteria used for this declaration was the Leslie Illustration.
Bookcase composed of two sections. Cabinet with glass doors at top and cabinet with wooden doors at bottom. Two glass doors have square mullions holding the panes. Doors give access to moveable shelves inside. Two doors at bottom of each have simple rectangular recessed panels.
Thomas Potter - 2nd owner of Wheatland
Sold to William Morris Meredith 3rd owner of Wheatland
Sold to James Buchanan 4th owner of Wheatland
Inherited by Harriet Lane Johnston 5th owner of Wheatland
Bequeathed to John Newton Lane, Harriet Lane Johnston's nephew
Bequeathed to Mrs. Patty Lane Fay daughter of John N. Lane
Bookcases sold to Meredith in 1845 by Potter then Meredith sold them to James Buchanan in 1848. Letter dated 9/27/1848 to Buchanan from Meredith: 'In addition to the $6750 which you mention, I paid Mr. Potter for the bookcases in the library, I think $75.00.'
