Set of four Renaissance Revival style side chairs. Top rail scroll curved with tight C-scroll at ends. Finger hole is triangular with arrow point inside. Flat finial hangs from bottom of rail. Stretcher is also curved out with scroll work and bell flower. Front legs turned.
Small lift-lid desk of walnut, Aesthetic Style, has green baize inset into lid's center panel. Gallery at top rear is missing, leaving only its dark outline and screw holes. Upper section of desk overhangs base, with applied decorative raised panels at front and sides faced with burl veneer. Desk interior has pigeon holes at rear.
Base has 3 drawers and pull-out shelf at right side, and double panel construction on 3 other sides. Base has applied decoration of shaped brackets at top (under overhang) and bottom of sides of front. Applied turned bosses and bulls-eyes. Sits on 4 molded low block feet at corners.
Provenance
Desk reportedly belonged to James Buchanan Henry II (1875-1961).
Desk top finish worn and marred with holes and stains. Baize worn with holes and edge losses. Desk lid warped.
Back right corner of desk top broken off and missing. Top drawer front missing applied edge molding at left side. Left side near front has ten-inch-long crack. Right rear block foot mostly missing, despite nails indicating attempted repair.
Object ID
2013.008.018
Credit
Gift of the Family of Eleanor N. Henry (John D. McNeill Jr., Mary Catherine Henry West, James Buchanan Henry IV, and Elizabeth Henry Richardson)
Rococo Revival writing desk. High relief carved arching crest with acanthus leaf motif flanked by matching finials. A cherub relief face with wings in a recessed arch is seen below the crest, surmounting a storage cabinet decorated with more highly carved foliate and scroll motifs along both rails. The cabinet door is decorated with inlaid woods that form a vase with flowers. The writing desk has a fold-down/pull-out writing surface and four drawers that surmount a central drawer and four highly carved foliate and scroll adorned cabriole legs that terminate on casters and are connected by supports to central finials.
Several broken finials and high relief carvings under central cabinet
Object ID
W.1936.008.001
Notes
From the account of Major Andre, who visited Wheatland in 1888, it can be surmised that the escritoire stood in the sitting room or study. This room was located to the left of the front door in the central section of the house.
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.
Pennsylvania Long Rifle; percussion cap; curly maple stock; iron barrel stamped "H. GIBBS" on top of barrel. Brass fittings and patch box. Some rust on iron and brass parts. Approximately .40 caliber muzzle. 44" barrel with an overall length of 61 inches.
See notes for information on Gibbs.
Provenance
Purchased by donor (Walt Dunlap) at auction in Lancaster County in 1956.
Henry Gibb Sr. and his son Henry Gibb were Lancaster City gunsmiths active for most of the nineteenth century. The father from 1812 until 1843 and the son from 1843 until 1880.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Mahogany veneered night stand with a gray marble top, bull-nosed edges and rounded corners. Three inch skirt has an ogee curve on all sides with a wide centered drawer and a small brass knob drawer pull. Skirt surmounts two horizontal beads of trim above an ogee crest and sides that form the frame of the cabinet with a centered side-hinged door. The small brass knob pull is missing. The wide base apron is surmounted with cockbeaded trim and at the base are four beveled carved trimmings around the feet that terminate in casters.
