124 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1924 



groom on either side of the heart-shaped key plate ; a walnut chaise 

 lounge from the Otis house, Marshfield, Mass., of Dutch type, with 

 slat back and six cabriole legs terminating in club feet; a spinning 

 wheel of the period completes this section of the exhibit. The light- 

 ing appliances include half a dozen tin sconces with glass reflectors, 

 two betty lamps, a wrought-iron candlestick and two candle molds. 



For the installation of this collection a room adjoining the foyer 

 of the Natural History Building has been utilized. The wall panel- 

 ing has been set up around the walls, and the furniture tastefully 

 arranged about the floor, which is partly covered by a hooked rug of 

 the Aubusson pattern, made in New England during the latter part 

 of the eighteenth century. One corner of the room is occupied by the 

 corner cupboard filled with the glass and china ware described below. 

 On an opposite wall is located the mantel belonging to the wall 

 paneling. Above is installed a painting on wood showing Holyoke, 

 Mass., with Mount Tom and Mount Holyoke in the background. The 

 locations of the windows in the room are indicated by curtains of old 

 English chintz. At the fireplace are shown a fire stand and set, a 

 pair of andirons, and a trivet. 



In the corner cupboard and on the tables are shown the china, 

 glass, and pewter ware belonging to the exhibit. The china includes 

 an exceptionally beautiful bowl of Chinese Lowestoft and a child's 

 tea set of the same ware; a helmet pitcher; and a number of pieces 

 of lusterware of more than usual interest. The glassware includes 

 several pieces of Stiegal ware, a number of plain glass mugs of 

 antique design, a glass pitcher, and a number of glass bottles of rare 

 types. The collection of pewter includes plates, mugs, coffeepots, 

 pepper and salt shakers, dishes, sirup mug and basin. This collection 

 is unique in character, and its presentation marks an epoch in the 

 development of the collections of this type in the National Museum. 

 It is the donor's intention to add to this collection until the furnish- 

 ings of an entire colonial home have thus been assembled. These will 

 be exhibited as a unit in a house of colonial style to be erected for 

 the purpose in proximity to the present group of Museum buildings. 



To the collection of costumes of the ladies of the White House, 

 which has for a number of years attracted so much public attention, 

 two costumes of great interest have been added. One of these is a 

 white satin evening gown worn by Mrs. Warren G. Harding during 

 the administration of her husband, President Warren G. Harding, 

 1921-23, and now presented to the Museum by Mrs. Harding. The 

 other is a gray silk dress worn by Mrs. Benjamin Harrison at the 

 inaugural ball in 1889 on the occasion of the inauguration of her 

 husband, President Benjamin Harrison. The latter costume was 

 presented by Mrs. James It. McKee, of New York City. Both these 



