Collection Preservation of the White House
In the 1960s, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy oversaw the task of restoring the White House interiors and thus founded the...
Main Content
961.14.1
As part of the refurnishing of the White House after the fire of 1814, President James Monroe ordered for "the large oval room" (Blue Room) a suite of French mahogany furniture. The agents, Russell & LaFarge of Le Havre, however, substituted a suite of gilded beechwood furniture by the noted Parisian cabinetmaker, Pierre-Antoine Bellangé (1760-1844), asserting, that "mahogany is not generally admitted in the furniture of a saloon, even at private gentlemen's houses." The 53-piece was described on the 1817 shipping invoice as decorated with "olive branch ornaments, covered in double-warp satin, fine crimson".
In 1860, 28 chairs (perhaps what remained of the original 38) along with the original complement of sofas, stools, footstools, and screens were sold at auction in Washington, D.C. Only the pier table has remained continuously at the White House. Five armchairs, two side chairs, and one sofa have been returned to the White House since 1961. The two side chairs are the only pieces at the White House to bear traces of the maker's stamp. A group of reproductions (seven arm and four side chairs) was made in 1962 to supplement the three original chairs acquired in 1961-62.
Office of the Curator, The White House
In the 1960s, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy oversaw the task of restoring the White House interiors and thus founded the...
From hot dogs to haute cuisine, U.S. Presidents have communicated important messages through food. Stewart McLaurin, President of the...
From First Lady Dolley Madison's sister Lucy Payne Washington's wedding in 1812 to the nuptials of President Joseph Biden and First...
In 1821-1822, Susan Decatur requested the construction of a service wing. The first floor featured a large kitchen, dining room,...
Over 200 years ago, James Hoban left Ireland for America to pursue his dream of becoming an architect. Selected by President...
Every year since 1981, the White House Historical Association has had the privilege of designing the Official White House Christmas Ornament....
The American experiment has long held the curiosity of people around the world, especially for Iain Dale, an award-winning British...
Since 1965, the White House Historical Association has been proud to fund the official portraits of our presidents and first ladies,...
In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in for the first of his four terms as president of the United States....
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., the nation’s only unelected president and vice president, served thirteen terms in Congress before rising to...
Every year since 1981, the White House Historical Association has had the privilege of designing the Official White House Christmas Ornament....
Native Americans hold a significant place in White House history. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples, including the Nacotchtank and...