This bergère by Pierre-Antoine Bellangé of Paris is part of a 53-piece gilded beechwood suite ordered for the Oval Room (later called the Blue Room) by President James Monroe in 1817. A bergère is an armchair with upholstered and enclosed sides. The bergère is one of two made for the president and first lady. The bergère was photographed by Bruce White in the Blue Room of the White House.

This carved and gilded beechwood pier table is of the French Empire style and was manufactured by Pierre-Antoine Bellange of Paris. This table is the only piece of the 53-piece Bellange suite purchased by President James Monroe that has always remained in the White House.

This silver wine cooler was made by French silversmith Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot between 1798 and 1809. James Monroe, who served as president from 1817 to 1825, owned the wine cooler, and later sold it to the government for use at the White House. The wine cooler is engraved with the words "President's House" and features sculptural elements, a hallmark of Odiot's work.

This gilded bronze and mirrored plateau or centerpiece was made by the Parisian firm Denière et Matelin circa 1817, during James Monroe's presidency. Elements of the plateau may have been based on designs by the famed French architects Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine, who completed many commissions for Napoleon. Visitors marveled over the elegant piece, shown here in the White House State Dining Room.

This gilded beechwood armchair is part of the 53-piece suite of Pierre-Antoine Bellange furniture that future president James Monroe purchased while serving as United States minister to France and later brought with him to the White House. Many pieces remain in the White House Collection. This particular chair is upholstered in fabric inspired by the chair's original crimson upholstery.

This detailed closeup is of a black marble and malachite mantel clock. The clock has three dials (clock, calendar, and barometer) and a thermometer and was made in France. It was purchased from retailer Browne & Spaulding of New York City for the mantelpiece in the Cabinet Room during the Ulysses S. Grant administration. Until the construction of the West Wing in 1902, the Cabinet Room was on the east end of the Second Floor in the Executive Mansion.

This gilded beechwood armchair is part of the 53-piece suite of Pierre-Antoine Bellange furniture that future president James Monroe purchased while serving as United States minister to France and later brought with him to the White House. Many pieces remain in the White House Collection. This particular chair is upholstered in fabric inspired by the chair's original crimson upholstery.

This gilded beechwood armchair is part of the 53-piece suite of Pierre-Antoine Bellange furniture that future president James Monroe purchased while serving as United States minister to France and later brought with him to the White House. Many pieces remain in the White House Collection. This particular chair is upholstered in fabric inspired by the chair's original crimson upholstery.

This detailed closeup is of a black marble and malachite mantel clock. The clock has three dials (clock, calendar, and barometer) and a thermometer and was made in France. It was purchased from retailer Browne & Spaulding of New York City for the mantelpiece in the Cabinet Room during the Ulysses S. Grant administration. Until the construction of the West Wing in 1902, the Cabinet Room was on the east end of the Second Floor in the Executive Mansion.

This gilded beechwood armchair is part of the 53-piece suite of Pierre-Antoine Bellange furniture that future president James Monroe purchased while serving as United States minister to France and later brought with him to the White House. Many pieces remain in the White House Collection. This particular chair is upholstered in fabric inspired by the chair's original crimson upholstery.

This is one of a pair of circa 1830-1837 gilded bronze torchères in the White House Collection. They were placed with the Blue Room mantel in the mid-19th century and may have been a gift to President Andrew Jackson by a political supporter. Bates Littlehales photographed the torchere in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This is one of a pair of circa 1830-1837 gilded bronze torchères in the White House Collection. They were placed with the Blue Room mantel in the mid-19th century and may have been a gift to President Andrew Jackson by a political supporter. Bates Littlehales photographed the torchere in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This is one of a pair of circa 1830-1837 gilded bronze torchères in the White House Collection. They were placed with the Blue Room mantel in the mid-19th century and may have been a gift to President Andrew Jackson by a political supporter. Bates Littlehales photographed the torchere in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This is one of a pair of circa 1830-1837 gilded bronze torchères in the White House Collection. They were placed with the Blue Room mantel in the mid-19th century and may have been a gift to President Andrew Jackson by a political supporter. Bates Littlehales photographed the torchere in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass scabbard is part of the saber commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The French Government presented it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the scabbard in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass scabbard is part of the saber commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The French Government presented it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the scabbard in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass scabbard is part of the saber commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The French Government presented it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the scabbard in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass scabbard is part of the saber commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The French Government presented it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the scabbard in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass scabbard is part of the saber commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The French Government presented it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the scabbard in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass and steel saber was commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The handle and scabbard of the saber consist of gilded brass. The French government donated it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the saber in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass and steel saber was commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The handle and scabbard of the saber consist of gilded brass. The French government donated it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the saber in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass and steel saber was commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The handle and scabbard of the saber consist of gilded brass. The French government donated it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the saber in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass and steel saber was commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The handle and scabbard of the saber consist of gilded brass. The French government donated it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the saber in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded fruit basket was made in France between 1820 and 1830 and belonged to John Tyler, who became president after William Henry Harrison's death in 1841. The basket features two bisque winged angels. It is one of the few objects in the White House associated with Tyler, who held office during an economic depression and did not receive funds from Congress to furnish or maintain the White House. The basket was photographed by Bates Littlehales for the National Geographic Service in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This gilded brass and steel saber was commissioned by French volunteers who fought in the American Revolution for President George Washington. The handle and scabbard of the saber consist of gilded brass. The French government donated it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the saber in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.