| JACQUARD-WOVEN IMAGE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN BY FRANÇCOIS CARQUILLAT, FRENCH, circa 1861-1876 |
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| Web ID: | pat-828 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 14.75" x 13.5" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 9" x 8.5" |
| Description: | |
| Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, woven on a modified, jacquard weave loom, executed by Françcois Carquillat (1802-1884), of France, circa 1861-1876. Lincoln’s image appears in black on a white ground, cradled within a “V” shaped wreath of oak leaves and laurel branches. At the vortex of these is a spread-winged eagle, with a federal shield worn about it neck, with additional foliage of the same sort in both talons [notably lacking the traditional olive branches and cluster of arrows]. Rays of sunlight extend from below. “Abraham Lincoln” appears along the lower register, above and below which accompanying maker’s marks read: “Carquillat tex, Allardet del.” and “Appolo Schulthess, etCie,” respectively. Swiss, English, and German competitors all acquired the technology to produce these extraordinarily fine textiles at approximately the same time, in or around 1860. Examples from Basel, Switzerland date as early as 1861-62. Thomas Stevens of Coventry, England, sold his first designs of the “Stevensgraph” in 1862. This French example may conceivably have been produced as early as the opening years of Lincoln’s presidency, or to mourn his death in 1865, though even if this were the case, manufacture almost certainly persisted through the 1876 Centennial of American Independence, when a huge World’s Fair occurred in Philadelphia to honor the event. Known as the centennial International Exposition, this served as the nucleus of the national celebration. Held at Fairmont Part over a period of approximately 6 months, both this and a similar textile, featuring George Washington, were likely displayed and sold these. Also made by Carquillat, I have owned examples of this textile. Others survive in the collections of the Smithsonian, as well as at Winterthur Museum in Delaware, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Louisiana State Museum. An example of the Lincoln version, in the collection of the Smithsonian, is documented in “Threads of History: Americana Recorded on Cloth, 1775 to the Present” by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (1979, Smithsonian Press), item 406, p. 196. The Washington version appears as item 407, p. 196. It is of interest to note that among the other notable figures pictured by Carquillat on similar textiles was Joseph Marie Jacquard (1752–1834), who invented the loom he altered to create them. An example of this survives at the Art Institute of Chicago. Mounting: The exceptional, gilded, American frame dates to the period between 1830 and 1870. The textile was hand-stitched to its background. A deep mat was custom cut to the profile of the image and accompanying text. This was wrapped in 100% twill, black in color, that was washed & treated for colorfastness. The glazing is U.V. protective glass. Condition: There is minor to modest soiling in limited areas. The textile was adhered to paper board by either the manufacturer or the original seller, in the period. Though removed, significant remnants of this remain on the reverse. |
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| Video: | |
| Collector Level: | Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything |
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| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1861 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1876 |
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| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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