Evening star., 1916-08-20
National Museum Acquires
Splendid Collection of
Walter G. Peter.
MARTHA CURTIS DAUGHTER
ORIGINALLY OWNED THEM
Letters From Son of Lafayette, Ham
ilton and Knox-Pictures of
First President.

A loan collection of objects of artistic
and domestic interest once owned by
Gen. and Mrs. Washington at Mount
Vernon, Va, has been received by the
National Museum. This collection COM
priSes 1856 objects. and includes china
and glassware. furniture. pictures,
kitchen utensils. manuscripts and let
ters, and number of miscellaneous
articles of historical interest All are
loaned by Walter C. Peter of this city
Mr.. Peter inherited these priceless
relics from his grandmother. Mrs. Brit
annis W. Kennon of Tudor Place,
Georgetown, daughter of Martha Custis,
who was the granddaughter of Mrs.
Washington and her first husband,
Daniel Parke Custis. Thus coming
down through five generations. they
have at last been deposited. by the
eat-great-grandson of Mrs.
Washington. with the national collec-
tionS.
y Letters From Celebrities.
OF especial Importance are three
letters written to Mrs. Washington
upon the death of Gen. Washington.
They are from George Washington
Lafayette. son of the Marquis; Alex
ander Hamilton. and Henry Knox. MIR.
Peter has lately added four more letters
tosthe collection: three written by Gen.
Washington to Thomas Peter, the hus-
band of Martha Custis, and one letter
written by Thomas Peter to Gen.
Washington.
A set of red and white ivory chess
men used by the general at Mount
Vegnon is another exhibit.
Several pictures are included, two of
them depicting Washington; one a
water color by William Thornton. and
the other an engraved portrait.
BY far the most interesting object in
this connection is the Washington re-
lief plaque by Champion done in white
porcelain. 1t is said to be copied from
Peale's picture of 1777, which shows
Washington as a young colonial Off
Ger. Surrounding the central medal
Iron are the emblems and flags of the
colonies intertwined with floral
wreath, while below is the Washington
coat-of-arms.
Like the Franklin porcelain plaque,
by the same artist, this one of WASH
ington has a history of considerable
interest, made as il was in the famous
china factory in Bristol, England, by
Richard Champion. British subject,
az the time when Washington was the
hero of the colonies.
Pieces of Jewelry.
The jewelry includes a handsome
gold watch with an extra case. face and
crystal owned by Mrs. Washington; a
piece of a pearl cuff button. and two
gold lockets containing locks of Gen.
Washington's hair. one of which is
woven into a design forming his coat
of-arms, and was worn by Mrs. WASH
ington on a watch chain.
Three conch shell buttons worn by
the general have an interesting story
attached to them. 1t is narrated that
while walking alone one day in Phila-
delphia, he was accosted by poor
italian, who. ignorant of his person
ality, offered some conch shells for
sale. and pressed his wares. insisting
that they comprised all he had in the
world to sell Washington is said to
have asked:
do with your conch shells?"
Whereupon the insistent Italian sug--
gested that he use them to make but
tons for his coat Pleased with the
ready answer. Washington purchased
them and had brown velvet coat made
with buttons fashioned by his tailor
from the shells. This incident is de-
serioed by William Armstrong in an
article in the Century Magazine for
May. 1890
Considerable chinaware used al Mount
Vernon is exhibited OF special in
te est is a bowl decorated with the in
sigma of the Society of the Cincinnati.
Seventeen pieces of glassware are also
to be seen among these New Museum
exhibits, some of which are cut glass.
but others are of the old-style thin
pressed glass. now uncommon.
Gift From Lafayette.
There is a child's French dressing
table. presented to Martha Custis
by< Marquis de Lafayette. This is a
we'll made piece of fine mahogany with
dainty lines and inlaying. A chest of
dra Ters. "A ladder-back chair "A wood
ep>stool. and drawing room screen are
al 20 on exhibition
Other pieces came from the drawing,
bed and music rooms at Mount Vernon,
and the kitchen Conspicuous in the
latter group are pewter, copper and
frrr cooking utensils
uunher Of articles are from Mrs
Nasf iaSton's sevi ing room. and con-
sfst Of embroidery from her own hand:
chair cushion done on coarse canvas
slsoT"B = de ign of shells in brown and
ySllow aools. the high lights being
s~@'t"rd by Sold-cOlcred silk. This
cushion is said to he one of twelve
male by drs- Washington. four of
which she gave to each of her three
AMI Mrs Peter.
Pieces Of Mrs. Washington's wedding
dress. worn upon the occasion Of her
marriage to Gen. Washington, are also
rosbe seen.