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.
Left earlobe has broken off. Base is chipped. Various smudge marks all over.
Object ID
W.1960.006.001
Notes
James Buchanan Henry inherited this bust when his Uncle James Buchanan died; his cousin, Harriet Lane Johnston inherited the matching bust, which she later donated to the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
James Buchanan Henry bequeathed this bust to his son, Frank Anderson Henry, who donated it to the James Buchanan Foundation in 1960.
Page 192 of "Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion" from 1854. Includes an article on James Buchanan with images of him as Minister to England and of Wheatland. Also includes musings on "What is the hardest mode to die?"
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.
An oyster shell-shaped serving dish. Made from a hard-paste porcelain china manufactured at the Sèvres factory in France. Decorated and sold by Haviland, the decor consists of maroon and gilt boarders on a white background, gilt rings and highlights.
Provenance
Johnston, Harriet Lane
To - cousin, Riddle, Katherine W.
To - sister, Riddle, Anna S.
To - cousins, Coe, Sara W. & Coe, W. Travers To - Murphy, Elsie B. of Charles Town, W. VA. To - Governor's Mansion Virginia by Ms. Murphy's sister, Fletcher, Mrs. Robert.
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.
Easgles Nest completed conservation on the image and frame.
Height (cm)
36.195
Height (ft)
1.1875
Height (in)
14.25
Length (cm)
6.985
Length (ft)
0.2291666667
Length (in)
2.75
Width (cm)
41.275
Width (ft)
1.3541666667
Width (in)
16.25
Dimension Details
Dimensions are for frame
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-07-21
Object ID
W.1995.015.001
Notes
Based on the pointed waistline of her bodice, this photograph was likely taken in Washington DC while she was the First Lady and before the year 1860. This style was at the height of fashion in the mid-1850s and quickly disappeared in the year 1860, when the straight waistline came into fashion.
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.
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.
Crest of top rail, finger-molded in scalloped shaped. Horizontal splat curved upward, terminating in scroll on each end, thicker at middle. Seat is shield shape, serpentine front. Legs plain cabriole, back legs square and canted. 36.14.3 differs from 36.
Re-upholstered -date unknown Two had been green velvet and one blue velvet Originally [when owned by Buchanan] chairs were covered in green morocco leather.
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.
Rococo Revival walnut upholstered Salon Parlor Chair. Carved roses on crest and apron, Cabriole legs terminating in castors. Upholstered in gold damask fabric, chair back is button tufted.
Provenance
Owned by a Buchanan family member
To Elizabeth Hensel Nauman (Dorothy Flinn - donor)
Victorian half-barrel back, button-tufted leather upholstered chair. Walnut frame is exposed along the skirt that has a slight outward curves at the front surmounting foliate carved legs terminating on brass casters.
4/4/1939 Loaned by Brooke-Memo Agreement 6/3/1955 Talbot Speer to Mr. Prentis-Offer of Donation. Letter said 'Buchanan's favorite [chair] that he sat upon to the time of his death. 6/28/1957 Claire Parker to Robert Finnegan-Chair 'had been in Library, considered Buchanan's favorite; used to sit in front of fireplace.
Oval picture in rectangular frame with velvet backing. Buchanan facing almost front, dark suite, white tie. Back of frame 'Daguerreotype presented to President Buchanan by J. Henry Brown-1851'
Tea Caddy Dark wood with light wood inlay. Hinged lid. Center of box contains scenes of dark skinned men and women in merchant dress-small key hole in front.
four strands of wicket at one narrow end of the basket is broken off.
Object ID
W.1940.006.001
Notes
In her letter that accompanied the donation, Mrs. Myers informed the museum that "Mrs. Sherry said the basket was used for pretzels.
Mrs. Myers added that "Mrs. Sherry lived on the Old Factory Road near the Old Factory Bridge until about 15 years ago (1925) gave this pretzel basket and bread knife to me. They were given to her by Hetty Parker for whom Mrs. Sherry worked in the Buchanan home for 19 years.
Made of heavy silk brocade. Blue background with beige and red colors in paisley design. Multi colored cording around collar, cuffs, pockets, and front. Lined in navy blue silk and batting quitled in diaper pattern -- machine stitched. Cording also used for front closre between collar and pockets; three pairs of corded loops anchored by an ornate triangular design of sewn cording with a mesh covered, barrel-shaped wooden button to hold the cord loop from the opposite side. Tassel belt. Inside back has band that can be adjusted/gathered. Two fabric covered buttons with cording at outside side seams for loops to hold the corded belt.
Textile is very fragile and is ripping in some areas. Ed 12/20/2016, VAP. Some stains, wear on lower edge right sleeve. Heavy wear at neck. Center back seam apart. Collar separating from neckline. Left side seam open.
Object ID
W.1940.012.001
Notes
Presented to James Buchanan by Chinese or Japanese Ambassador while Buchanan was Ambassador in England.
James Buchanan shown from waist up, sitting in red upholstered chair. Wearing black suit, white shirt and white bow tie, high collar. Eyes looking right and body turned to left. Right hands holds document-may be the constitution. See notes for letter rem
Provenance
William McMaster
To - Mrs. C.E. McMaster (wife of)
To - Edward Y. Buchanan (1/1892)
To - Mrs. Eric DelSpoelberch (great-granddaughter of E. Buchanan)
Painting is very dirty; requires cleaning 05/31/2023
Gesso & wood frame is damaged in several areas requires conservation.
Object ID
W.1945.001.001
Notes
The following original letter is in the accession folder. Letter from back of Painting: ' Phila. Jan. 1892 - This is the original portrait of James Buchanan painted by Wm. E. MacMaster of New York in July 1856, by personal sittings given him during his stay at Wheatland.
