Dining Room

In 1789, President Washington purchased a set of chairs from French ambassador, the Comte de Moustier when he was recalled. Washington brought the chairs to Philadelphia, the temporary national capital, for use in the green drawing room of the Executive Mansion, a house rented from Robert Morris. Washington filled out the set in 1793 with identical Louis XVI style chairs ordered from French-trained Philadelphia upholsterer George Berteault. The chairs were sold at an auction of Executive Mansion furnishings when Washington retired in 1797, and James and Dolley Madison likely purchased the chairs at this sale.