Cylindrical, Chinese export porcelain vase with handpainted decoration. There are two sections with detailed images of vignettes of people. May illustrate a story. separated by two brightly colored bands with foliate and curvilinear motifs. Upper and lower borders include similar designs.
Provenance
Vase owned by Harriet Lane Johnston, then descent within family to donor.
Carved teak(?) 2-pedestal desk of three parts. The two pedestal bases have 3 drawers on one side only & false drawers on the other. Desk section rests on top of bases. Extensive carving over most surfaces: variations of grapes, vines & leaves. Desk section has long center drawer w/ 2 short side drawers; opposing side has matching "dummy" drawers. All functioning drawers are one side only. All drawers have wood pulls. Flanking drawers in bases are tapering pilasters (split columns) with vine and grape leaf carving. Bottom of bases has gadrooned edge with egg-and-dart carving. Both bases sit on 4 bun feet w/ some carving.
Worn finish, with some areas very "weathered/sunbleached", especially lower sections of bases below dummy drawers. Some areas of liquid staining. Desk top also has wear and marring with one chipped corner and a long crack extending in from right end. One drawer pull missing. Drawer slides resurfaced
Object ID
2013.008.017
Notes
A private gift from an acquaintance in India to President-elect James Buchanan. Buchanan used it in the White House.
Place of Origin
India
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)
Serpentine-back, enclosed arm sofa, Louis XV (Rococo Revival), has yellow upholstery, finger-molded exposed frame of rosewood or mahogany and a rounded back crested with central cartouche of high relief carved fruit and leafage. Outline of rounded back slopes down to rounded shoulders that descend and curve back in to arms that enclose the sitter. Low arm rests have upholstered arm pads. Cyma-curved arm supports extend to short cabriole legs at front. Square, curving legs at back. Serpentine seat front and serpentine lower outline of seat frame.
Serpentine-back, enclosed-arm sofa, Louis XV style (Rococo Revival), has yellow upholstery and a finger-molded exposed frame of rosewood. At top of central arch is a raised crest with high relief carved fruit and leafage, flanked by a volute on each side. Frame flows in a continuous line into arched shoulders that dramatically curve and drop to a low arm rest wrapped with upholstery, exposing a hand grip. The front arm support leads to the short cabriole leg; knee with carved shell. Seat front is serpentine and the exposed frame below has a swell at the bottom and is decorated with a thin raised carved strip. Was likely part of the new suite of furniture ordered by Sophie Plitt for retiring President James Buchanan and his niece, Harriet Lane, in 1861.
One of a pair of Empire side chairs (with 2013.008.22) with yellow upholstered seat and cherry wood frame. Elements of entire frame are flat with rounded fronts. Back uprights have slight cyma curve, surmounted by a long, wide concave tablet. Tablet has low relief foliate carved ends while most of face is covered with a panel of mahogany veneer. Tablet extends beyond back uprights. Horizontal splat at center of back is pierced carved with a central rectangle flanked by half-moon carved shells, and is then supported by paired, loosely scrolled lyre-like "legs" that attach to chair posts. Trapezoid slip seat upholstered in an ivory cotton brocade. Front legs have a slight cyma curve.
One of a pair of Empire side chairs (with 2013.008.21) with yellow upholstered seat and cherry wood frame. Elements of entire frame are flat with rounded fronts. Back uprights have slight cyma curve, surmounted by a long, wide concave tablet. Tablet has low relief foliate carved ends while most of face is covered with a panel of mahogany veneer. Tablet extends beyond back uprights. Horizontal splat at center of back is pierced carved with a central rectangle flanked by half-moon carved shells, and is then supported by paired, loosely scrolled lyre-like "legs" that attach to chair posts. Trapezoid seat. Front legs have a slight cyma curve.
Empire side chair of walnut with yellow upholstered trapezoid seat. Elements of entire frame are flat with rounded fronts. Both front legs and back uprights have slight cyma curve. Scroll-cut and carved wide crest rail with concave shape. It is faced with bookmatched crotch veneer, with kidney-shaped handhold at top center. Outline of two C-scrolls flank hole along top. Paired cyma curves form outline of bottom edge. Rounded ends. Scroll-cut horizontal splat is pierced with low-relief carved confronting C-scrolls at center and scrolling "legs" extending to chair posts. Bowed front seat rail and flattened cabriole front legs.
Walnut rocking chair has caned back and seat. Frame of oval back is finger-molded and is connected to seat frame by two curving legs. Cyma-curve short, low arms connect oval back to seat, with foliate carving at top end. Seat frame is a rounded "D" shape with round outside edge. Ring-turned legs are all connected by a baluster-turned stretcher and sit on rockers with front ends barely extending beyond the front legs.
Long sleeved floor length dress with stand up collar made by House of Worth Paris. Probable match to jacket W.40.17.2. Dress opens at front front collar to 27in below collar. 13 fabric covered buttons on left with matching bound 1in buttonholes. Seven 2.5in wide ribbon bows sewn down front to cover buttonholes. Neckline 2 bands of 2.5in wide black lace gathered and stitched around outside of collar with 9in tails at center front. Hook and eye at top front. Sleeves set in v opening at back bottom edge. Entire edge bordered with 2in wide band off black lace. Similar lace is gathered at the hem and extends 2in below the hem. Lace is missing from a portion of the back hem. Bodice is lined; skirt is unlined. a 2in wide belt with 4 pleats is slid into slits in side seams and fits against wearer's back but hooks on front outside. Excluding trimmings, entire dress is heavily beaded in several sizes of black beads in swirling floral and foliate designs. Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston.
Fine linen white sheet. HLJ monogram is 5 inches from the top center. top hem is 2 inches; bottom hem is 3/4-inch, both machine-stitched. "ERT-C" stamped twice on inside lower hem.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen bed sheet with hand-stitched (2.25-inch high) white monogram (HLJ) at center front 4.75 inches from top edge. Top hem is 2.25 inches; bottom hem is .75 inch. Machine-stitched.
"E.R.Taylor" label stitches on bottom hem and stamped on one corner.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
Fine linen white bed sheet. White monogram (HLJ) ceter top about 5 inches from top edge. Machine-stitched hems: 2.25 inches top; .75 inch bottom.
Label "E.R. Taylor" sewn on inside lower hem near corner. Stamped "ERT-C" beside it.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen bedsheet with hand-stitched white monogram (HLJ) about 5 inches from center top edge. 2.25-inch top hem. .75-inch bottom hem.
"ERT-C" stamped twice on bottom inside hem; once on upper hem.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen bed sheet with a hand-stitched white thread monogram (HLJ) 5 inches from center top edge. 2.25 inch top hem and .5 inch bottom hem. "ERT-C" stamped on lower corner.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen bed sheet with hand-stitched white thread monogram (HLJ) in center about 5 inches from the top edge. 2.25-inch hem across top. .5-inch hem on bottom.
"E.R. Taylor" label sewn on. Also "ERT-C" stamped on bottom inside hem: twice in one corner; once on opposite corner.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
Some dirt on exposed folded areas. Some yellowed stains.Frayed on top hem edges. Fibers worn on a fold line. 2 small tears; more than 4 tiny holes; and 3 mended tears on the lower hem.
Lithograph signed Print of Queen Victoria from painting by F. Winterhalter. Black ink, oval background. Victoria-body is 1/4 to her left, head front. Wearing crown, drop jewel earring, large stone necklace. Shoulder gown in trimmed with fur. Mounted in a The frame is a gilt decorated wood frame. Signed "Victoria R."
F. Winterhalter painted the original. J. A. Vinter, engraver. Day & Son, lithographer.
A sauce serving dish with leaf-shaped handles. 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.
On loan to White House 1974-2007. Sauceboat on exhibit in White House 1974-2005, then in storage. China purchased from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1997 by The James Buchanan Foundation (see 98.2 and 98.3 accession files).
3 lengths of velvet ribbon, unfinished edges. Each length is made up of smaller pieces sewn together. Predominant color is red with green, white, purple, yellow, and black in decreasing widths of bands in plaid design.
