Originally used as a study by Mr. Wilcox. It was the site of President Roosevelt's first Cabinet meeting. From this room, Theodore Roosevelt issued his
first presidential proclamation following the death of President McKinley.

The present furniture is mainly period-appropriate, with very few pieces original to the house.

Note: The black bars are barriers installed by the Museum to protect the desk from overly curious visitors who are prone to touch the desk.

Ansley Wilcox's slant-front Chippendale desk , probably used by Theodore Roosevelt after he was inaugurated:

• Slant-front bureau desk with plain, unmolded top
• Lid falls forward onto 2 pull-out slides
• Seven pigeonholes with shaped dividers above two rows of drawers
• Straight front with four graduated full-length drawers
• Protruding, molded base
• Molded bracket feet
• Brass batwing mounts with bail handles
• Brass batwing escutcheons

Ansley Wilcox's slant-front Chippendale desk

• Two of the seven pigeonholes with shaped dividers above two rows of drawers
• Inlay
• Patera

William and Mary caned chair:

• Double scroll crest
• Finals atop turned stiles
• Turned front legs
• Turned front and side stretchers
• Bun feet

Detail - William and Mary caned chair:

• Cane seat
• Vase and block turned front legs
• Vase and ring turned stretchers on three sides

Spiral-twist Victorian novelty armchair:

• 1882-1897
• Moorish fretwork
• Made by the Merklen Brothers
• Mahogany
• Two horizontal bamboo-turned back rails forming two sections, the top section with five spiral-twist spindles, the lower section with six spiral-twist spindles
• Tall spiral-twist stiles topped with brass ball finials
• Spiral-twist open arms with knob ends on spiral-twist arm supports 
• Wide seat with gadroon border
• Canted spiral-twist legs joined by spiral-twist H stretcher
• Claw-and-ball feet - brass claw feet holding glass balls

Special thanks to Paul Tucker who documented this chair as one made by the Merklen Brothers, 1882-1897.

See his article entitled"Moorish Fretwork Furniture" in the May 2005 issue of The Magazine Antiques where a photo of an identical chair is shown.

2 details below:

• Wide seat with gadroon border
• Canted spiral-twist legs joined by spiral-twist H stretcher
• Claw-and-ball feet - brass claw feet holding glass balls

• 1929 portrait of Ansley Wilcox by his well-known brother, Urquhart Wilcox
• Gothic Revival fireplace
• Note candle holders on mantel   - detailed below:
  

• Top: Gothic Revival quatrefoil design in fireplace frieze
• Marble spandrels and arch
• Cast iron andirons

• Gothic Revival quatrefoil design in fireplace frieze
• Vertical panel has quatrefoil and cinquefoil design
• Marble spandrels and arch

Sleepy Hollow Armchair

The favorite chair of Washington Irving, author of The legend of Sleepy Hollow. Known in Europe as "gondola chair." A Rococo Revival substyle.

• Carved crest
• Finger molded arms and arm supports
• Cabriole legs and whorl feet
• Carved skirt