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.'
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.
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.
American Empire style stool has an upholstered adjustable seat finished with green silk velvet. The serpentine apron and urn shaped pedestal surmounts a plinth base with four square legs each terminating on casters. The primary wood, pine, is veneered in walnut.
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.
American Empire walnut sofa, upholstered in brown leather; the back is button-tufted. The sofa has an oblong body and exposed frame. Top rail of back is straight with a slight backward roll with downward sloped ends. The lyre curved end/arms are upholstered and faced with balancing swan-neck uprights that are carved with foliate motif scrolls. The deep skirt is straight with a center carved foliate motif and scroll work. The sofa is supported by four legs that feature foliage-carved knees terminating with upward turned scrolls on wood casters.
Balloon back walnut chairs with serpentine splat. Louis XV style back is rounded and finger molded with no additional carving. Flaring upholstered seat-black horsehair-with serpentine front with beaded molding at bottom of skirt. Cabriole front legs, rounded, with slightly curved square back legs terminating on flat feet.
Artifacts mentioned by Ara Hatch in New York Dalily Times 11/10/1856. Person had visited Wheatland.
Height (in)
34.312
Width (in)
18
Depth (in)
16.125
Condition
Excellent
Condition Date
2022-11-21
Condition Notes
Reupolstered; James Buchanan Foundation records indicate the seats were originally covered in green morrocan leather.
Object ID
W.1936.001.015.2
Notes
The chair was presumed to belong to James Buchanan by the James Buchanan Foundation representatives in 1936 when they bought certain furnishings that were still in the mansion during the Willson-Rettew Estate sale.
Mentioned by Ara Hatch in the N.Y. Daily Times (visited Wheatland 10 November 1856.)
Commerically advertised as a 'Hat Tub,' this portable tin tub was typically setup for use near the kitchen range. The tub is circular and made of tin with a round center bowl. The sides slant up and out in seven sections; one of the sections is topped with a flat seat for the bather. Each of the seven sections is japanned with a gold stencilled geometric pattern decoration. The underside of the tub is painted green. On one side of the bather's seat is a curved tin strip that holds soap and a bathing sponge. A raised semicircular tin piece creates a seat back.
Black-glazed pottery with wide bottom, narrow neck with molded band, wide flaring mouth. Around inside of lip-heart pattern. Back of body has ornate, double petalled (six each) flower mold. Front has oval medallion, surrounded by scrollwork.
Top of desk is slanted. Top lifts to reveal a compartment fitted with pigeon holes and drawers. Cabinet supported on four heavily turned legs which are reminiscent of late Sheraton style. Piece is simple and forthright in its design and construction; pro
Box when opened becomes a lap desk. Two inside lids are covered in green baize, space for papers underneath lid. At one end of desk is a groove for pens, ink well, and sander. Glass ink well in one compartment but sander is missing. On outside of box is
Provenance
James Buchanan
To Harriet Lane Johnston
Purchased at auction Mrs. Lorman's Great-Grandmother in 1884
Mrs. Lorman also dontated 'Water Pitcher'- as of 1-4-2004 the water pitcher location remains unknown
Lapboard received by Buchanan as an 1843 Christmas gift. Purchased by Mr. Lorman's great grandmother at an 1884 auction for Harriet Lane Johnston's household items in Philadelphia.
Oval picture set in rectangular frame. James Buchanan is shown wearing a blue jacket with white buttons, tan vest, and white shirt and tie. Hair is brown. 3/4 front and turned to his left. Frame has scroll-work inlay, black and red. Back of frame is 'Lou
Black, grey and white chalk drawing on white medium. Image of James Buchanan's upper body, facing slightly to his right wearing dark suit, white shirt and stock collar with a white cravat. Buchanan's hair is dark with gray mixing in with his darker color. The image's matt is a cream color, Frame is gilded with bevelled and curved edge, gesso layer under paint.
Mahogany veneered pine with 3-part recessed center serving area. Pressed glass knobs on drawers; left side round-front cabinet has bottle turn-table. Center and right cabinets each have one shelf. Supported by two ball feet in back and four claw feet topped with acanthus in front.
Provenance
James Buchanan
sold to Isaac Bassett, Doorkeeper of the U.S. Senate
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
