Oblong shaped walnut veneered container with a back-hinged lid, beveled shape raised central flat area carved with egg-bead molding. Brass 8-point star bail handles are on each end; one handle missing. Brass round keyhole escutcheon is centered on the top front façade of the box with egg & bead molding around the base surmounting four flat-bun shaped feet. Interior features two boxes with back hinged lids as storage compartments for tea leaves. In the center is a circular aperture lined with felt holding a star cut glass mixing bowl to blend tea leaves.
American Rococo Revival Walnut Sofa. The serpentine back centered by a rose and shell scrolled carved crest, the back joined to closed arms, with a serpentine apron and raised on cabriole legs terminating in casters, silk velvet upholstery.
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.'
Jacquard woven blanket formed by two layers of intersecting dyed and undyed fabric. It was manufactured, not hand woven, due to the size of the loom required and complexity of punching the cards to form the pattern. Blue base with undyed wool forming a floral design.with starburst and diamond alternating patterns in between. Green fabric tape found on edges. Design is reversed in color on opposite side. Center design is cluster of four rose plants. Border is a foliate vine with blossoms.
Supposedly owned by Harriet Lane when she attended Georgetown Visitation Convent. Unknown how it came to be in donor's possession. Donor's son and daughter-in-law posited that perhaps Charlotte A. Bauer (donor) received it from Mrs. Cynthia Westover Alden, who was a cousin by marriage to John Alden. Mrs. Cynthia W. Alden had many connections in the 1880s and may have received the blanket from Harriet Lane Johnston.
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
Cherry writing desk, front of the desk, 4.25" below the top, has piano hinges that allow the top to converts to a writing surface covered with green felt. When closed, the piece serves as a chest with four progressively larger drawers. Both sides have recessed panels and the chest is supported by four vase and ring-turned legs.
German style gilt and hand painted porcelain vase. Protruding 'ears' at side, leaf shape and design. Top has flower at center with drooped leaves. At center of vase on front, pink and white roses with green leaves, blue and orange daisy-like flowers painted on. Made in Pirkenhammer, Germany (then Bohemia).
Vase was broken in three places at the back of the vase and repaired at some point in its history. Repair seems to be made with some type of glue adhesive, which is dried and present in a brownish tint around the broken pieces. There is a small, roughly 1 millimeter shaped triangular piece at the back of the vase that is missing.
White and pale pink collar. Net made of six rows of shirred netting running horizontally with drawstring at neckline for fit. Nine garlands of pale silk apple blossoms (?). Approximately 6' in length and approximately 5' apart. Attached vertically. Entir
Blue infant's dress. Silk taffeta. Hem and bodice lined with polished cotton. Sleeves lined with white cotton. Square neckline bound with self-fabric with drawstring in binding. Thirteen sets of tucks on either side of bodice and pressed toward center. Wide square neckline. Ornate bodice and sleeves with pin tucks, smocking, fabric covered buttons (3 on each sleeve, 8 on bodice front) and lace decoration, including edges of short, 5in, sleeves 1in band between bodice and skirt. Front center 3in of skirt is flat. Pleats facing center on both sides, front and back. 4in center back is gathered. Closure is 2 hooks and eyes at waist band in back. Decorative work around skirt, front bodice and on sleeves. Bodice lining and 3.5in interior hem of blue polished cotton fabric. Sleeves work in 2 fabrics together. Seems hand sewn.
Remains of green silk at both ends over linen. Backing appears to be natural color linen with an open weave wool decorated with needlepoint floral-design repeated about ten times down length. Red rose/lavender rose/blue violets, with green leaves also shadings of brown.
Ivory-handled razor. Straight razor, yellowed handle, slightly curved. Two rivets at either end, handle is two pieces of flat ivory between which the razor rests when closed. Has maker's mark and inscription 'H.Boker and Co.', 'Germany,' and 'Red-Injun N
Three-mold colorless glass pint decanter etched on one side with initials 'JB' and the other with a sheaf of wheat above the word 'Wheatland'. Elongated chamfered neck with applied handle and bullseye stopper. Teardrop-shaped body with flat front and back.
Cotton quilt. On white ground are 9 large blocks delineated by sashing, a yellow print with a vine of red berries. Within each block is a geometric design made of overlapping strips of a red check print arranged like an angular lovers knot.
Back is white cotton with three inked stencils / prints on cloth in blue. First print has flowers with a bird and '30/2' ; the second print has scrollwork around a shield with 'Superior Longcloth' ; the third print has an ormate design around "CLYDEWORKS. BLEACH & FINISH / S.H. GREENE / PROVIDENCE R.I."
Silver caster. Elaborate floral decorated with detachable lid. Lid is pierced and topped with a small bud-like knob. Pine cone design. Neck and bulbous body have flower and leaf relief design. Etching at the bottom of the body reads, 'James Buchanan. Whe
Signature stamp. Thin metal layer mounted on thick piece of wood, attached by small nails. Thin metal has signature of 'James Buchanan' carved out of it in reverse. Wood stained along metal strip from ink
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.
Wine bottle. Brown glass, shallow pontil, seamed shoulder and neck. Cork with red wax to seal mouth. Wine inside almost to shoulder level. Found by volunteers sometime during the early years of the James Buchanan Foundation. Bottle was found in the east end of the basement level in the Wheatland mansion.
Round dessert service plates. Bright cobalt blue, semi-opaque glass with overlay decoration of silver grapes and leaves. Center of some plates has foliate-like starburst design in silver with grape clusters at ends. Edges are bracket-shaped on dishes. 'S
