U. S. Department of State, Diplomatic Reception Rooms, Entrance Hall

The Entrance Hall

Designed by Edward Vason Jones, the hall's paneled interior is based on the interior of Carter's Grove (1751-1753) and Westover (1674-1744), two great Georgian plantation houses on the James River in Virginia. The Hall is a handsome space with thirteen-foot ceilings and a Tabriz rug on its mahogany floor. The ceiling is a copy of that taken from the Powel House in Philadelphia. The cut-glass chandelier is English, c. 1800. The bombe desk is from Boston, c. 1755-1770. Above it hangs a New York Looking Glass, c. 1765. To the left is one of the Collection's masterpieces, a secretary desk of 1753 by Benjamin Frothingham, Jr.

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Bombe Desk and Bookcase
Formerly called "kettle" shaped by early 20th century antiquarian writers, the bombe' form derived from a shape used commonly for ancient Roman sarcophagi. Tall Case Clock
The Bourghelle clock stands as one of the most imposing and intricate clocks known to have been produced in this country in the 18th century.

High Chest of Drawers
This high chest was made in the same unidentified shop as at least three other high chests and a double chest. Plate
Armorial dinner services were popular among wealthy Englishmen who ordered some four thousand of them over the years.

Figure Group
The group of bisque porcelain is considered to be the work of Charles-Gabriel Sauvage, the foremost figure modeller employed at the Niderviller factory between 1779 and 1806. Fitzhugh China
Fitzhugh patterns seem to have been more popular with Americans than with the English reflecting the rise to prominence of the American traders at the time. Consequently, there is more variation in the examples that survive in this country.

Fitzhugh China
The term Fitzhugh refers to a group of usually blue-and-white patterns of Chinese export porcelain made principally between 1780 and 1840. Consular Seal
The seal bears the mark of Peter and William Bateman, one of the best known silvermaking firms of the period in England.

Three-Piece Tea Set
According to family tradition, this tea service was a gift to Webster, possibly upon the publication of his monumental two-volume American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828 Skippet
Skippets are boxes, usually of silver or gold, used to protect the official wax seals on important, official documents. Skippets have been used by the United States only on major 19th century international treaties; the result is that most skippets by American silversmiths survive in foreign archives.
Landing of the Pilgrims
First for the Derby family and then for other leading families of Salem, Corne' painted portraits of people and ships, seascapes and landscapes. The Key House
John Ross Key, the artist, was the grandson of Francis Scott Key.

Please Select an Object
	Bombe Desk and Bookcase Formerly called "kettle" shaped by early 20th century antiquarian writers, the bombe' form derived from a shape used commonly for ancient Roman sarcophagi.		Tall Case Clock The Bourghelle clock stands as one of the most imposing and intricate clocks known to have been produced in this country in the 18th century.
	High Chest of Drawers This high chest was made in the same unidentified shop as at least three other high chests and a double chest.		Plate Armorial dinner services were popular among wealthy Englishmen who ordered some four thousand of them over the years.
	Figure Group The group of bisque porcelain is considered to be the work of Charles-Gabriel Sauvage, the foremost figure modeller employed at the Niderviller factory between 1779 and 1806.		Fitzhugh China Fitzhugh patterns seem to have been more popular with Americans than with the English reflecting the rise to prominence of the American traders at the time. Consequently, there is more variation in the examples that survive in this country.
	Fitzhugh China The term Fitzhugh refers to a group of usually blue-and-white patterns of Chinese export porcelain made principally between 1780 and 1840.		Consular Seal The seal bears the mark of Peter and William Bateman, one of the best known silvermaking firms of the period in England.
	Three-Piece Tea Set According to family tradition, this tea service was a gift to Webster, possibly upon the publication of his monumental two-volume American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828		Skippet Skippets are boxes, usually of silver or gold, used to protect the official wax seals on important, official documents. Skippets have been used by the United States only on major 19th century international treaties; the result is that most skippets by American silversmiths survive in foreign archives.
	Landing of the Pilgrims First for the Derby family and then for other leading families of Salem, Corne' painted portraits of people and ships, seascapes and landscapes.		The Key House John Ross Key, the artist, was the grandson of Francis Scott Key.