John F. Kennedy's brown leather ottoman hassock, kept in the Kennedy family's White House living quarters where it was designated as a play piece for John F. Kennedy, Jr., who loved jumping on it. The lightweight two-tone ottoman hassock measures 22″ in diameter and 13″ tall, and features an exotic golden star-and-flower motif on top, surrounded by black-and-white woven roping. In very good condition, with some wear to the gold pattern and staining and scuffing to leather. Provenance: Lot #382, Documents and Artifacts Relating to the Life and Career of John F. Kennedy, Guernsey’s, March 18-19, 1998. Accompanied by a notarized letter of authenticity from JFK's Special Assistant Martin Underwood to noted JFK collector Robert L. White, in part: "I acquired this item very early in 1964 while working at the White House…This fancy brown leather ottoman-hassock was used as a play toy by the President's son John-John in his upstairs living area and on occasion it found its way into the oval office area. John-John loved to jump and roll on this item." He goes on to describe the circumstances under which he acquired it. The letter is matted and framed with two photos of the ottoman to an overall size of 16 x 25.5.
