An Original Piece of the White House is Up for Auction

Ever wanted to own a piece of the White House for yourself? Soon, you'll be able to with a live auction later this month hosted by Boston-based RR Auction. The auction will feature an architectural ornament from the main hall of the White House, dating back to the early 1800s. The ornament, or plinth, was removed from the building in 1902 by President Theodore Roosevelt in order to conduct extensive renovations to the building. The ornament is made from pine with hand-forged nails and features 17 layers of paint, including decorative gold leaf. In one of the two niches in the Cross Hall, it served as a base at the bottom of the trim outlining. According to an RR Auction press release, this is the only White House piece that retains its original paint. The minimum bid for this item is $25,000. If interested in taking a shot at being the next owner of this historic artifact, the auction will be held on September 28 at 1 p.m. EST.

· The White House Plinth [RR Auction]