Antique / Vintage Portrait of Martha Washington (after a painting by Gilbert Stuart) -- monochromatic -- woven silk jacquard
Always on the lookout for Mount Vernon / George Washington / Martha Washington items since working at Mount Vernon many years ago, this is the first Martha Washington woven silk jacquard portrait we have acquired. Antique and vintage woven portraits of the President are rarely found, and those of Mrs. Washington are even harder to find. This textile work of art is obviously based on a Gilbert Stuart portrait of the First Lady. Sadly, when we purchased this there was no POTUS matching portrait to accompany this FLOTUS portrait.
We acquired this on a visit to Dallas a few years ago. When we purchased it, the back was a bit loose. We have left it as we purchased it. We can only peek in a bit at the top at one corner --- where we can see that at that corner the edge of the rectangular woven silk pane is about an inch in from the edge of the mat (which has an oval opening on the front). On the inside of the brown paper backing (which does not appear to be original to this frame) there is part of a label from a Virginia (VA) business -- which might indicate that at some point this was in Virginia. This frame is definitely vintage or antique, but without completely taking it apart, we cannot get anymore clues about the woven silk portrait or the frame.
If the new owner decides to have it re-matted and framed, be sure to photograph the textile panel (front and back). There may be more clues .... so feel free to send us your photos, since we might be able to give you more information (based on our research on other George and Martha Washington woven jacquard portraits), When fully "excavated", it will be possible to see if this is a section cut from a larger textile portrait. Even if it seems to be the woven panel in its entirety, it will be interesting to see what is beyond the area featured in the oval mat window.
This is a monochromatic weaving in several shades of gray thread. The portrait looks different from different angles due to the colors, directions, patterns, etc. of the threads. It even sometimes looks like a metallic relief.
It might be a Stevengraph, since some were made in this size, but there were also other silk-work firms in England (in Coventry) that could have made it. It could also perhaps be the work of a French firm or an American firm. Whoever wove it, it is of very fine and exceptional quality. When taken apart (out of its frame and mat), a careful examination could permit a closer and more definitive dating. At this point it is safe to say 1800s to early 1900s. Some of the rare George Washington woven silk portraits were done to commemorate specific dates. The 1876 Stevengraph silk portrait of President Washington (based on a Gilbert Stuart portrait) was made for exhibition at the Philadelphia Centennial. The production of some Washington and Mount Vernon commemorative objects and works of art was often also a result of centennial and bicentennial celebrations of birth years as well as death years. Just as for the celebration of the country's Centennial in 1876, there were many commemorative George Washington items made to celebrate the bicentennial of his birth in 1932. That is probably the latest date we would give this portrait (without being able to examine it out of its mat and frame), but a closer examination could date it back to the final years of the 19th century.
This beautifully detailed woven silk portrait of Martha Washington is matted under glass, so it was difficult to photograph it. Please excuse the glare and reflections; we tried to reduce them by photographing it at angles. The pale beige/tan mat (which has a slight texture) has certainly discolored with age. It is a bit darker around the inner edge of the oval and aroune the inner edge of the lower small rectangle that reveals her "signature" (woven into the jacquard panel).
The slim dark frame is in good condition with wear at the corners from age and handling. It looks like a previous owner has just had it hanging from a string between two nailheads. Even if you leave it as is, it is small enough that you could also display it on a tabletop stand or easel.
The frame is 11 5/8" x 8 1/8". The dimensions of the oval mat window are 7 1/8" x 4 3/8".
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All of the art work and collectibles being sold by Adams-Byrd Fine Art & Antiques have been collected and selected one at a time by the proprietor, an art historian with many years of training and experience in university art history departments, museums, galleries, and historic sites both in the U.S. and abroad. The business has been based in the Washington, D.C. area for many years. The art and collectibles that we are offering to eBay buyers are special and unique pieces that have been carefully “curated” by us.
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