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Just Arrived!

Card Table, ca. 1818

In November of 2006, the James Monroe Museum bid on a card table with a Monroe provenance at Headley's Auctions in Middleburg, Virginia. In December, the table arrived at its new home and took up residence in the Portrait Gallery, where it is Newly arrived card tablecurrently on display. It is mahogany, with a round tabletop that folds in half for easy storage. A slide-out fifth leg supports the tabletop when unfolded. A small drawer, hidden under the table, was used for storing game pieces or playing cards. The tapered legs show signs of having had their feet cut off and replaced (our theory is that the table may have once been on castors). The finish on the table is in excellent condition, and may be original. Overall, the piece is very simple yet elegant, as was James Monroe's taste in most of the furnishings he owned throughout his lifetime.

Since its arrival, the museum's staff have been learning all they can about the table's history. Thus far, we know that the table was used at Oak Hill, the Monroes' home near Leesburg, Virginia. Oak Hill was eventually sold to the Fairfax family, and many Monroe pieces remained with the house. Eventually, Eugenia Tennant Fairfax moved the contents of Oak Hill to another Fairfax property, called Oakum. In 2006, Headley's was hired to conduct a sale of of Mrs. Fairfax's estate at Oakum, which by then included four Monroe pieces - our table and three chairs. The Monroe family evidently enjoyed playing games quite a bit - this table marks the sixth gaming table to enter our collection, and we also hold an impressive number of gaming accessories, such as dominoes, cards, whist counters and chess pieces.

 

Monroe China, ca. 1817

In the summer of 2007, the museum purchased several pieces from the supposed state dinner service used by the Monroes at the White House (or the President's House, as it was known then). The purchase included a dinner plate, a salad plate, a Monroe chinanavette-shaped platter, and a footed compote. The pieces are now on display in the Portrait Gallery. Each piece is white, decorated with a gold border, and a central eagle and anchor wreathed by gold stars. The monogram "M" appears at the top of the plates.

The history of the Monroe dinner service is marked by some controversy. Records indicate that Monroe purchased both a dinner service and a dessert service through his buyers in France after he and his family moved into the President's House. The dessert service was described in detail in the purchase order, and so it is easily identifiable. Almost no description of the dinner service was given, however, and so it has remained an enigma. The service currently thought to be Monroe's may or may not be the real thing. The two best indications that it belonged to James Monroe are its eagle decoration and the "M" monogram. Monroe was the first president to use the eagle extensively on his personal property - it was actually a variation of the eagle on the Monroe family crest. However, the addition of the anchor is somewhat problematic, as Monroe had no connection to the navy or to seafaring in general. Until it can be conclusively proven that this dinner service belonged to James Monroe, it must always be presented to the public with the caviat that it maybe something else entirely.