 |
Ornament Collection 1995- 1998 # 5-8 in series
1995, White House Ornament, #5 in Series, WHITE HOUSE DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION ROOM, 24 KT Gold Finished, Handmade in USA by Official Ornament Makers
THE DILOMATIC RECEPTION ROOM
Originally used as a dining hall for servants n the early 1880's, the room was converted to the furnace and boiler room in the 1840's. Architect Charles McKim, during President Theodore Roosevelt's renovation envisioned this room with the broken plaster, dank concrete floor, and protruding furnace pipes, as an elegant oval receiving room, the Diplomatic Reception Room. On January 8, 1903, the room was employed for its first official function. Later, Franklin Roosevelt broadcast his famous fireside chats via radio from this room. Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy retrieved the wall covering from the Old Stoner Mansion in Thurmont, Maryland. The wall paper printed in 1834 in Paris, France was titled "Scenic America" and depicts life in America as viewed by Europeans in the early 1800s. This is an exceptional ornament which commemorates and exception White House room and those who helped transformed a broken plaster and dank concrete floor room into the exquisite room now known, worldwide, by dignitaries and guests as the Diplomatic Reception Room.
1996, WHITE HOUSE ORNAMENT, ON A STARRY NIGHT, #6 in Series, Secret Service Stars, 24 KT Gold Finished, Handmade in USA by Official Ornament Makers
The 1996 White House ornament derived Impressionistic inspiration from Vincent Van Gogh's STARRY NIGHT, a little known fact about the design of this 24KT gold finished piece.
1997 White House Ornament, #7 in Series, THE WEST WING RECEPTION ROOM, 24 KT Gold Finished, Handmade in the USA by Official Ornament Makers
The West Wing Reception with Full-Dress Marine Corps Support
In 1902, President Teddy Roosevelt set in place a plan to alleviate crowded conditions for the presidential Executive Offices. Within six months, the complex of greenhouses that had been built beginning in 1857 were removed, and the new office facility known as the West Wing was built. Although the interior has undergone several renovations, the exterior had remained architecturally unchanged, with the exception of adding the second floor in 1934. The West Wing now holds the Oval Office of the President, the Cabinet Room, Roosevelt Room, the Press Room, and an office for the Vice President. President Richard Nixon requested that the United States Marine Corps provide full-dress support at the entrance of the West Wing Reception Lobby. The 1997 White House Gift Shop official annual ornament is an exceptionally fine piece with its articulated design and its enamel blues, greens, whites, reds, 24KT gold trim, the West Wing holidays and Christmas tree, and two full-dress Marines.
1998 White House Ornament, #8 in Series, Steinway Piano in Entrance & Cross Hall with Portrait of President Kennedy, 24 KT Gold Finished, Handmade in USA by Official Ornament Makers
The 1998 White House Ornament features the large Entrance Hall and Cross Hall which were part of James Hoban's original design for the White House. The design of the hall has not been altered throughout the years at the White House, although marble walls and floors were added to the Cross Hall during the Truman renovation. The Entrance Hall is still used as a reception area and is seen by visitors as they leave the White House. The portrait of President John F. Kennedy on display in the Entrance Hall was painted by Aaron Shikler in 1970.
The Steinway Grand Piano, designed by Eric Gugler, was donated to the White House in 1938 by Steinway and is decorated with gilt stenciling by Dunbar Beck. This piano is often referred to as the Truman piano because of his passion for playing it. This piano is still in use for performances in the White House.
|
|
|
White House ornaments are quality 
