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  RARE AND EARLY YARD GOODS TEXTILE, MADE FOR THE 1829 INAUGURATION OF ANDREW JACKSON, ROLLER PRINTED IN A STRIKING SHADE OF CORNFLOWER BLUE

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 50.5" x 36.75"
Flag Size (H x L): 39.5" x 25.25"
Description....:
This French-made textile, roller-printed on cotton, was made for the American market in 1828 or 1829, to celebrate the 1829 inauguration of Andrew Jackson as the seventh president of the United States. This form of political textile was known as "yard goods," meaning quite simply that it was fabric sold by the yard for the making of whatever manner of utilitarian good that the purchaser desired.

It is of interest to note that a similar textile was produced in 1827, from which this Jackson design was adapted. The original artwork bore the same eagle as the central, repeating image, surrounded by very similar depictions of the first six presidents: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and John Quincy Adams. The portrait of Jackson in military garb was added to the 1829 version, featured within an oval window as a central medallion. Beneath Jackson's image was the following caption: "Andrew Jackson; Magnanimous in Peace; Victorious in War," while surrounding it was the following text: "President of the United States from March 4 1829 to [left blank]; Supreme commander of the Army & Navy." The eagle was moved to the left and an image of the U.S.S. Constitution was added on the right.

This same textile was made available in several different colors, among which were black and mulberry red. There may also have been versions executed in violet and green. Winterthur Museum in Delaware, home to the collections of Henry Francis DuPont, owns a veritable treasure trove of this fabric in various colors, in the form of remarkable curtains, valances, quilts, material salvaged from the interior of cabinets, and other fragmentary pieces. Interestingly enough, however, it is very rare to find more than one single return of the repeating image of this textile, meaning about 15 inches of this 24-inch-wide fabric, outside institutions. One return of the pattern is not particularly attractive from a visual perspective. It is likewise difficult to acquire this textile in good condition. Most of the pieces that I have ever seen for sale are thus small, faded, and relatively undesirable.

A number of years ago I was able to acquire an entire summer quilt made of this fabric, in the blue version, in remarkable condition. This I disassembled and divided into large enough sections to be bold and dynamic. Over time, I placed them in various collections, but occasionally I have been lucky enough to reacquire one of the group. That is the case here and this is one of the longest lengths that I had clipped from the remarkable summer quilt.

Because so little exists in large scale political textiles that features Jackson, and because this is such an early point in American history, and because the colors and imagery on this particular example are so beautiful and interesting, this Jackson inaugural yard goods it is a terrific nice addition to any advanced collection. The inclusion of Madison, Monroe, and J.Q. Adams, all still living when this textile was printed, is also of great significance. All are extremely rare on political cloth.

Brief Biography of Andrew Jackson:

Born in the backwoods of the Carolinas in 1767, Andrew Jackson is probably most famous for his military prowess, specifically that shown in his victory at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. It was here that he marched his men through swamps and without sleep, for days on end, traversing with heavy cannons and all manner of equipment and supplies--a feat thought to be nearly impossible--to arrive and position himself at Fort St, Philip in time to defend the city from 60 British warships carrying nearly 15,000 men. Outnumbered roughly 3-to-1, with a rag tag assembly of local volunteers, regular army, state militia, and Choctaw Indians, he successfully repelled his far superior, highly trained, and well-equipped enemy for more than a month. This saved access to the Mississippi River, which served as the only viable means of transporting all manner of food and supplies to the growing portion of America that lay well beyond the Eastern seaboard.

Jackson received minimal education, but studied law and grasped it enough to become a formidable attorney in Tennessee, where he became the state’s first representative to the United States Congress, followed by a short stint in the Senate. He ran unsuccessfully for President against John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and William Crawford in 1824, winning the popular vote, yet losing to Adams in the electoral vote. He beat the incumbent, Adams, in 1828, after which he tried to eliminate the Electoral College for rather obvious reasons. While unsuccessful in that regard, it was nonetheless a landmark year for American party politics. Jackson’s atypical views on certain issues, such as the manner in which Federal offices were chosen, led to a rather firm split between two factions, those who followed “Old Hickory”, as he was so nicknamed, and those who opposed him. From this emerged the Democratic Party, under Jackson, and the National Republican or “Whig” Party, that held against him and what became known as “Jacksonian politics."

Jackson won again in 1832 and was succeeded in 1836 by his good friend and vice president, Martin Van Buren.

Mounting: The textile was mounted and framed within our own conservation department, which is led by masters degree trained staff. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and have framed thousands of examples.

The black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed molding is Italian. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic. Feel free to contact us for more details.

Condition: There is minor foxing and staining and very minor fading. Overall excellent for the period.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type:
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1828
Latest Date of Origin: 1829
State/Affiliation: Tennessee
War Association: 1777-1860 Pre-Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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