Coverlet of red wool and blue-green cotton. 2 loom widths decoratively and strongly seamed in the center with red wool. This coverlet is comparatively light weight. Self-fringes of red wool on both sides. Foot end is rolled and hand-stitched. Red wool fringes appear to have been individually applied.Top/head edge is finished with a 1.5-inch wide folded silky red binding. Some machine stitching in black thread and also hand-stitching to attach the binding.
Center field contains rows of circular designs. Roses border the lower edge and foliage in urns border the sides.
Unlike most coverlets, Satler's weaver's blocks in bottom corners are oriented to be read from the top of the coverlet.
Deed to Wheatland on parchment. Indenture for purchase of Wheatland by James Buchanan from William Meredith and Catherine Meredith. Dated December 2, 1848 with seal of William Meredith and of Catherine Meredith. Not signed by James Buchanan. Some fold marks and stain
Conservation proposal by Lancaster Galleries (Fine Art, Custom Framing, Restoration) June and July 2001. Quote to suface clean, mount, glaze to prevent fading, and seal.
oil on canvas portrait of two standing girls. Taller girl faces slightly right; shorter girl's body faces sister, embracing her waist, while face is turned sharply to nearly fully front. Tall ggirl has light brown hair with center part, tied with blue bows at back. Gray eyes. Multiple strand coral beaded necklace and gold hoop earrings. Blue wide necked dress with elbow length sleeves and buttons on sleeve cuff ans well as down front of dress. Skirt is pleated with 3 flounces. Lace trim at neckline and sleeve edge. lace blooms show below blue skirt. Red shoes with lback toe. younger girl has brown hair with center part. Multiple strand coral beadednecklace. Same ensemble only pink. Bows at shoulder. Older girl has flowers in right hand and corner of gold fringed shawl that drape down to bottom right. Basket of flowers at lower left. Large trees behind and to right of girls. Pastoral scene in distance through an open gate at background. Back has paper sticker at upper left "ART 64/120" Canvas stamped "A.Armstrong/Artist/Lancaster, Pa." "1849" painted below.
Painting: Oil on linen, Fair/Good, canvas sagging, cracking throughout, some paint loss in faces, abrasions.
Painting conservation needs: Surface clean.
Frame: None.
Frame conservation needs: None.
(eta, 08/08/2017,VAP) sagging cavas; semi-gloss, sheen on overall surface. Four areas of paint loss along older sister's nose on forehead and shoulder of younger girl and fourth loss at center right, approx. 3in from edge. Canvas edges worn with paint loss. Electrical tape covers all outside edges of stretchers. No frame.
Passport for Samuel Ashmead, June 25, 1846. Signed by James Buchanan. Framed between two pieces of glass with narrow black wooden frame. Two small metal eye hooks with picture wire at top of frame.
Provenance
Samuel Ashmead was a botanist from the Germantown, PA area. He was the donor's husband's great-great grandfather. Passport hung in the donor's husband's grandfather's house for as long as she could remember.
Framed between two pieces of glass. Top right corner has 2 rips in paper caused by humidity and too small of frame. Paper has been folded into fourths with small hole at center of sheet. Also folds horizontally into thirds. Brown spots or stains all over
Object ID
W.MSS07.4.2
Place of Origin
Washington, D.C.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Coat of Arms once hung over the judge's bench at the old Lancaster county courthouse (1786-1853). Lancaster served as the capitol of of the Commonwealth of PA from 1799 to 1812. Made of oak,