• Celestial Globe, Decatur House Collection
    W. & T. M. Bardin
    furnishings
    Decatur House
    This celestial globe was created by William and Thomas Marriott Bardin (professionally known as W. & T. M. Bardin) circa 1800 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The globe is made of wood, brass, and glass and set on a three-legged wooden stand. There is a round compass at the juncture of the stretchers and the sphere and stand both have the months and zodiac names on it. The globe captures the position of stars observed in 1800 by Dr. William Hershel and is dedicated to Rev. Nevil Maskelyne, astronomer royal. This globe is one of a pair in the Decatur House Collection. The other is a terrestrial globe. It is believed these globes are part of the 1820 estate inventory of Decatur House. In 2010, the White House Historical Association and National Trust entered into co-stewardship arrangement and Decatur House now serves as the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History.
  • Cut-Glass and Gilded Metal Chandelier
    William Parker
    chandelier
    This cut-glass and gilded metal chandelier by William Parker of London is one of a pair and was among several English chandeliers donated to the White House in the 1940s.
  • Silver Candelabrum by Paul Storr
    Paul Storr
    candelabrum
    This set of chased silver candelabra was made by renowned silversmith Paul Storr of London circa 1810. When the branches are removed, they can be used as single candlesticks. This set was owned by the Duke of Hamilton, possibly Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton.
  • Candelabrum, Maker's Mark
    Paul Storr
    candelabrum
    This chased silver candelabrum was manufactured by renowned silversmith Paul Storr of London circa 1810. Storr made many candelabra of this form that can be used as single candlesticks when the branches are removed. The candelabrum was a gift of Mrs. Dorothea S. Wiman in 1964.
  • Silver Gravy Boat and Tray
    Paul Storr
    silver
    tableware
    serveware
    This silver gravy boat and tray was made by British silversmith Paul Storr circa 1810, when James Madison held office.
  • Wine Cooler
    Paul Storr
    vermeil
    coolers
    furnishings
    This gilded silver wine cooler was made by Paul Storr for the London firm Rundell, Bridge Rundell between 1809 and 1810. The piece was one of over 1,500 silver gilt, or vermeil, objects donated to the White House in 1956 by Margaret Thompson Biddle, a close friend of First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. Special cabinets to house the collection were built in a ground floor room of the White House, now known as the Vermeil or Gold Room.
  • Inkstand
    John Wakelin and Robert Garrard
    silver
    writing utensils
    This silver and glass inkstand was made by John Wakelin and Robert Garrard of London between 1800 and 1801. The Ladies of the Senate presented the inkstand to First Lady Grace Coolidge in 1929 in recognition of her efforts to have American antiques donated to the White House.
  • Vermeil Wine Cooler
    Paul Storr
    vermeil
    coolers
    furnishings
    This wine cooler was possibly made by renowned London silversmith Paul Storr for the firm Rundell, Bridge & Rundell between 1809 and 1810. The cooler is made of gold gilded silver, or vermeil in French. Margaret Thompson Biddle, a close friend of Mamie Eisenhower, gifted 1,575 vermeil pieces, including this cooler, to the White House upon her death in 1956. Special cabinets were built to house the collection in a ground floor room, since renamed the Vermeil or Gold Room.
  • Jefferson Tablespoon
    Elizabeth Tookey
    silver
    flatware
    tableware
    This spoon was made by Elizabeth Tookey in London between 1768 and 1769 and originally belonged to Bathurst Skelton, the first husband of Martha Wayles Jefferson. It bears the initials B, M, and S for Bathurst and Martha Skelton. Martha married Thomas Jefferson after Skelton's death, but she died nearly twenty years before Jefferson became president.
  • Jefferson Tablespoon Back, Detail
    Elizabeth Tookey
    silver
    flatware
    tableware
    engraving
    This spoon was made by Elizabeth Tookey in London between 1768 and 1769 and originally belonged to Bathurst Skelton, the first husband of Martha Wayles Jefferson. Martha married Thomas Jefferson after Skelton's death, but she died nearly twenty years before Jefferson became president. The engraving on the spoon describes its history.
  • Gilded Silver Soup Tureen
    James Young
    vermeil
    serveware
    This gilded silver soup tureen was made by James Young in London in 1779. Young modeled the tureen in the style of silversmith Robert Adams. It entered the White House collection in 1956, when Margaret Thompson Biddle, a close friend of Mamie Eisenhower, gifted over 1,500 gilded silver, or vermeil, pieces to the White House. Special cabinets were built to house the collection in a ground floor room, since renamed the Vermeil or Gold Room.