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NPS McLoughlin House

MPFC had the fortune to conserve several objects for our own McLoughlin House in Portland, Oregon, which is part of the Fort Vancouver NM.

 

McLoughlin's Chinese Lacquer Sewing Cabinet Ca. 1830

The Chinese Lacquer Sewing Cabinet was a gift to Marguerite McLoughlin, wife of John McLoughlin, considered the Father of Oregon. A grateful member of the Fort Vancouver community gifted Marguerite, and one can imagine the excitement this beautiful cabinet must have caused in Fort Vancouver. It is one of the few items in the collection which belonged to the family. The cabinet consisted of four parts: cabinet, cornice, table, and sewing box. hen with minimal invasion. We have a full page dedicated to Marguerite McLoughin's Chinese Lacquer Sewing Cabinet

 

McLoughlin's Prince & Co. Melodeon Ca. 1852

The Prince & Co. Melodeon was a gift from John McLoughlin, the "Father of Oregon," to his granddaughter. The melodeon was grimy, had missing veneer and trim, and structural damage in the stretcher MPFC cleaned the melodeon inside and out; restored it to playing ability, and performed all reparative and restorative work.
NPS MCLOUGHLIN MELODEON RESUME

Before, above, and after treatment, below.

 

Burled Slope Desk Ca. 1800

The Slope Desk was not part of the McLoughlin Family legacy. It was a gift to the McLoughlin House from an Oregon family, and has its own historical background which included the Oregon Trail, the Civil War, and stories from Oregon City in the early 20th century. Missing veneer, structural damage, years of grime, a broken leather spine, and missing escutcheons were problematic; the latter was not covered in our scope of work. Before, left, and after, right.
NPS MCLOUGHLIN HOUSE SLOPE DESK RESUME

Before, above, and after treatment, below

 

Washstand from the Steamship S.S.Beaver

The washstand located on the first floor of the McLoughlin House originally came from the S.S.Beaver, the first steamship to operate in the Pacific Northwest. The Beaver was built in Blackwall, London, and sailed to Fort Vancouver in 1835; the Beaver shipwrecked in 1888 near Vancouver, BC. The washstand may have come to the McLoughlin home via the family of Dr. William Fraser Tolmie. NPS MCLOUGHLIN WASHSTAND RESUME

 

Caribbean Mahogany Pivoting Game Table

The pivoting game table is part of the McLoughlin family collection. The table was seriously damaged, far more than the NPS suspected, and due to lack of funds, MPFC was unable to properly treat the cracked base, causing many issues in the veneer and the tilt of the table, seen in the resume, below.
NPS MCLOUGHLIN PIVOTING GAME TABLE RESUME

Before Treatment, Left; After Treatment, Right

 

Rosewood + Birds-eye Maple Veneered Wardrobe, Ca. 1833

MPFC conserved the tall wardrobe for the McLoughlin House. The outside is beautiful rosewood veneer,a nd the inside is a golden birds-eye maple veneer. The wardrobe was not associated with the house but came from John and Marguerite McLoughlin's granddaughter. MCLOUGHLIN WARDROBE RESUME

Before reparation of broken elements and finish treatment, above, and after, below.

 

Victorian Balloon-Back Chairs Ca. 1833

MPFC conserved two dozen dining chairs for the McLoughlin House. Half of the chairs were associated with either Dr. John McLoughlin or Dr. Fraser Tolmie. The chairs have three distinctive styles, though all show that they are hand-crafted, as there are slight variances in each chair of a given set. Show covers were black or variegated gray horsehair, or wool needlepoint in two floral patterns. Sample resumes of three of the chairs are below: MCLOUGHLIN CHAIR 402 RESUME

MCLOUGHLIN CHAIR 416 RESUME

Horsehair show cover with an elaborate inside back splat and an unusual leg. Provenance dating the chairs was found under the chairs: a sample is shown below.

MCLOUGHLIN CHAIR 436 RESUME

The needlepoint chairs are not associated with John McLoughlin nor Fraser Tolmie, but were donated via the family or local donors, as they matched the McLoughlin/Tolmie chair styles. Various upholsterers left their calling cards under the seats.

 

For more information on the McLoughlin House in Oregon City, visit the NPS site or the McLoughlin Memorial Association site for events.

We offer a free one hour assessment in your home or office
toward the restoration of your antique, contact us for an appointment.

Additional pages offer specific wooden items:

• Chairs + Rockers + Footstools;
• Tables + Clocks;
• Desks + Cabinets + Chests of Drawers and other Storage;
• Painted Polychrome and Lacquer Objects;
• Visit the historic Berkey & Gay collection
• Visit the collection of Imperial Monterey Furniture from Crater Lake National Park
• Visit the collection of Mason Monterey furniture at the Oregon Caves National Monument (in process.)