LWP Interactive-Bellange

This photograph of a Bellangé armchair following refurbishment was taken by Bruce White in the Blue Room of the White House. The armchair by Pierre-Antoine Bellangé is part of a 53-piece suite purchased by President James Monroe in 1817.  The armchair was reupholstered with new fabric featuring a documented period design and regilded to recreate its original appearance. The White House Historical Association funded this restoration work across several presidencies. Visit the 3D model for a closer look at the restoration work.  Photo: Bruce White for the White House Historical Association

This page of The White House: An Historic Guide captures the history of the Bellangé armchair and suite in the Blue Room of the White House.

During her time as curator, Lorraine Waxman Pearce acquired two original chairs from the Bellangé suite. Pieces from the suite were both rare and valuable. The suite was purchased by President James Monroe in 1817, but by 1860, apart from a pier table, all other pieces had left the White House. One of the chairs had already returned to the White House Collection after it was discovered among the stacks of letters from potential donors. Through interest generated by her research and lectures and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s televised tour, Pearce secured two additional chairs. They arrived at the White House “ratty with attic dust” and needed a thorough cleaning. President John F. Kennedy dropped in to see if there were new additions to the collection and was pleased to see the chairs. Both Pearce and President Kennedy opted to present them as a gift to Mrs. Kennedy. Pearce cleaned and gift-wrapped the chairs, surprising Mrs. Kennedy with the pair. Pearce later remembered that the first lady was “absolutely thrilled. She loved them”.

White House Curator Lorraine Waxman Pearce (right) shows an artifact to an unidentified guest in the Curator's Office (Map Room) on the Ground Floor of the White House. Photo: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum /NARA