This sword was presented to Commodore Stephen Decatur by the Commonwealth of Virginia following his capture of the Macedonia on October 25, 1812. The blade was created in Philadelphia by William Rose and features an ivory and parcel-gilt hilt topped with a cast eagle, silver gilt plate, and brass stripes on the edges, and inlaid with gold foliage and silver lettering. An inscription on the blade reads, “In testimony of the splendid naval talents and valor displayed by Commodore Stephen Decatur commanding the United States Frigate UNITED STATES in the capture of the English Frigate MACEDONIA 25th, October 1812.” This presentation sword is part of the collection at 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.

This sword and scabbard was presented to Commodore Stephen Decatur by the Commonwealth of Virginia following his capture of the Macedonia on October 25, 1812. The blade was created in Philadelphia by William Rose and features an ivory and parcel-gilt hilt topped with a cast eagle, silver gilt plate, and brass stripes on the edges, and inlaid with gold foliage and silver lettering. An inscription on the blade reads, “In testimony of the splendid naval talents and valor displayed by Commodore Stephen Decatur commanding the United States Frigate UNITED STATES in the capture of the English Frigate MACEDONIA 25th, October 1812.” The scabbard is made of gilt silver with cast-applied nautical decorations. This presentation sword and scabbard are a part of the collection at 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.

This is one of three mahogany tables with black and gold marble inset tops originally placed in the East Room in 1829 under the chandeliers. They were made by Anthony Gabriel Quervelle of Philadelphia, a renowned furniture maker well known for his ornate mahogany and giltwood pier tables and cabinets.

This stuffed-back armchair, possibly by Thomas Affleck, is copied from a Thomas Chippendale design that was seldom made in 18th century America. The chair was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Lippincott in 1976.

This American Chippendale library table has historically been placed in the Map Room and has Chinese fretwork, square reeded legs, and Marlborough feet.

This bookcase was made in Philadelphia for a Pennsylvania banking family circa 1800 to 1810. The bookcase is one in a pit of Federal period bookcases still believed to be in existence. The pediment features an inlay of urns and scrolls at the center while the doors have inlayed fans in each corner and bands. The bookcase was a gift of Yale University in honor of Francis P. Garvan in 1962. On the shelves is the State Service of President Benjamin Harrison.

This armchair attributed to Adam Hains of Philadelphia belonged to George Washington and possibly came from the President's House at 524-30 Market Street in Philadelphia. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Shepley Evans and the White House Historical Association, 1975.

This red and gold ottoman was part of a gilt Victorian suite, made by Gottlieb Vollmer of Philadelphia. The Blue Room, where this ottoman was once displayed, was refurbished during the James Buchanan administration in 1860.

This mahogany pier table by Anthony Gabriel Quervelle is the only surviving piece of a set of four matching tables placed between the windows of the north and south ends of the East Room in 1829. This table has carved eagle heads on scrolled leg supports and original gilt stenciling.

This mahogany armchair is one of four in a set that also includes a settee. This armchair was acquired for the collection in 1961.

This portrait of Benjamin Franklin by artist Benjamin Wilson was displayed in the Roosevelt Room during the John F. Kennedy administration. Wilson's portrait is the earliest of the three portraits of Franklin in the White House Collection. Franklin was a renowned author, inventor and philosopher who was also one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He also served as the representative of the United States in France during the Revolutionary War. Franklin commissioned the portrait in 1758 while he was in London to argue for the right to tax the Penn family estate. Until the American Revolution, the painting hung in Franklin's Philadelphia home. However, while Franklin was in France, the home was occupied by British troops and one of them took the portrait when they left. It was returned to the United States via President Theodore Roosevelt by Albert Henry, the fourth Earl Grey in 1906, the bicentennial of Franklin's birth. In addition to being a painter, Wilson was an inventor who worked with electricity, much as Franklin did. This may account for the lightning bolt visible in the background of the portrait.

This armchair is attributed to leading Philadelphia cabinetmaker Henry Connelly. Connelly specialized in the Sheraton design exemplified by the chair's "racquet" back splat. This chair was used in the Green Room during the John F. Kennedy administration. Bates Littlehales photographed the chair in March 1962.

This armchair is attributed to leading Philadelphia cabinetmaker Henry Connelly. Connelly specialized in the Sheraton design exemplified by the chair's "racquet" back splat. This chair was used in the Green Room during the John F. Kennedy administration. Bates Littlehales photographed the chair in March 1962.

This engraving of President Martin Van Buren was done by Charles Fendrich and printed in 1838 by P.S. Duval & Co., one year after President Van Buren took office. Prior to his election in 1837, Van Buren was Vice President of the United States, working under President Andrew Jackson. This engraving is a part of the Blair House Collection. Blair House, located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, is known as the President's Guest House. Dignitaries and diplomats on official visits to the White House typically stay in the four building complex. President Jackson and, later, President Van Buren were friends of Judge Francis Preston Blair and his family, the owners and namesakes of Blair House.

This camp stool is one of two surviving stools of the 18 purchased by George Washington in May 1776 from Philadelphia upholsterer Plunket Fleeson. Thomas and Martha Peter purchased six of these stools at an 1802 estate sale. It is part of the collection at Tudor Place. Tudor Place was the Washington, D.C., home of Thomas and Martha Custis Peter. Martha Custis Peter was First Lady Martha Washington's granddaughter.

This tabouret stool is believed to be the sole survivor of a pair that President George Washington commissioned in Philadelphia in 1793 to complete a suite of Parisian furniture he purchased in New York from French minister Elénor-François-Elie, Comte de Moustier. It is part of the collection at Tudor Place. Tudor Place was the Washington, D.C., home of Thomas and Martha Custis Peter. Martha Custis Peter was First Lady Martha Washington's granddaughter.

This hand-painted porcelain pitcher was made by Tucker & Hulme in 1828. Andrew Jackson, who became president in 1829, patronized the Philadelphia factory.

This mark appears on a porcelain pitcher made by Tucker & Hulme of Philadelphia, a firm patronized by President Andrew Jackson, in 1828.

This silver tobacco box was made by George B. Sharp of Philadelphia. Secretary of the Navy Adolph E. Borie gave the box, which contains a wheel to cut cigars, to President Ulysses S. Grant in 1869. It is engraved with both Grant and Borie's names.

This French porcelain fruit basket was part of the "buff and gold" set purchased for the White House from the firm of James K. Kerr of Philadelphia in 1865. First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln ordered the china service shortly before Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865.

This porcelain soup plate was part of the "buff and gold" set purchased for the White House from the firm of James K. Kerr of Philadelphia in 1865. First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln ordered a china service with this pattern shortly before the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in April 1865.

This mahogany chairback settee in the Federal style was produced in Philadelphia. It has plumes and double curved arms, and matches four armchairs. The settee was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Meyers in 1961.

This Rococo Revival armchair and ottoman are both made of gilded ash and blue brocatelle and were manufactured by Gottlieb Vollmer of Philadelphia. They are part of a 19-piece suite that Harriet Lane, White House hostess and niece of President James Buchanan, purchased for the Blue Room where they stayed from 1860 until 1902.

Both of these vases were produced by either William Ellis Tucker or Joseph Hemphill, both of Tucker and Hemphill in Philadelphia. This firm was the most significant porcelain factory of early 19th century America. The vase on the left depicts President Andrew Jackson and has patriotic motifs on the reverse. The vase on the right is the reverse view and has a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette on the front. The vases were added to the White House Collection through the White House Acquisition Fund in 1979.

This side chair by James Gillingham of Philadelphia is in the Chippendale style and bears a rare maker's label. The chair was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Taradash to the White House in 1970.