Cloth Fragment
- Title:
- La Liberte Americaine
- Object Name:
- Cloth Fragment
- Object ID:
- 1975.056.11 a-h
- Creator:
- Huet, Jean-Baptiste (1745-1811)
Designer ; Oberkampf FactoryManufacturer ; Dupré, Augustin (1748-1833)Engraver - Place of Origin:
- Oberkampf Factory, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Date:
- circa 1785
- Description:
- Cloth fragments. Remnants of a once quilted bed hanging. Documentary. Toile de Jouy designed by Jean-Baptiste Huet (1745-1811) , manufacturer Oberkampf Factory, Jouy-en-Josas, France. Cotton plain weave fabric, copperplate printed in red with pastoral scenes and "Libertas Americana" medallions originally designed by Augustin Dupré (1748-1833) in 1783 on commission from Benjamin Franklin. Country scenes with animals, people in provincial dress, nude figure of a woman on a pedestal, scenes framed within foliated scrolls and arabesques. Medallion obverse: above "LIBERTAS AMERICANA" (American Liberty) over center profile of Liberty, hair flowing, Phrygian cap on pole behind her, below "4 JUIL. 1776" (4 July 1776). Reverse: infant Hercules, symbolizes United States, strangling two snakes representing British forces during Battle of Saratoga and Siege of Yorktown; Minerva left holding shield adorned with fleurs-de-lis on shield, symbolizing French aid to U.S., spear in hand thwarting attacking lion representing Britain. Above, "NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS" translates as "The infant is not bold without the aide of the gods." Two dates below "17 OCT 1777 and 19 OCT 1781", represent American victories at Saratoga, NY, and Yorktown, VA. Six panels, largest 63" x 22.25".
A. 63" x 22.25". Patchwork of ten rectangular fragments of different sizes with one hand and eight machine-stitched seams, four raw edges. One patched area of previous repair. Possibly bedcovering or curtain. One ecru cotton plain weave underlay hand stitched on one side, machine stitched on the other.
B. 61" x 22". Patchwork of eight rectangular fragments of different sizes, two hand and seven machine-stitched seams, four raw edges. Three patched areas of previous repair. Possibly bedcovering or curtain. Two ecru cotton plain weave hand stitched underlays.
C. 60" x 20". Patchwork of nine rectangular fragments of different sizes with five hand and five machine-stitched seams, four raw edges. Five patched areas of previous repair. Possibly bedcovering or curtain. One ecru cotton plain weave underlay, one end hand the other machine stitched.
D. 61.50" x 20". Patchwork of six rectangular fragments of different sizes with one hand-stitched, four machine-stitched seams, four raw edges. Four patched areas of previous repair. Possibly bedcovering or curtain. One cotton ecru colored plain weave underlay hand stitched on one side machine stitched on the other.
E. 60.50" x 21". Similar construction to fragment D. Two patched areas of previous repair. Possibly bedcovering or curtain. Four cotton ecru colored plain weave underlays three machine, one hand stitched.
F. 62.50" x 23". Patchwork of ten rectangular fragments of different sizes with two hand-stitched, six machine-stitched seams, four raw edges. Two patched areas of previous repair. Possibly bedcovering or curtain. Four white cotton underlays, three of ecru colored plain weave, one ecru cotton twill, three machine, one hand stitched.
G. 19" x 55". Two-panel construction 25", 30" lengths, center 0.25" hand blanket stitched seam, two cut appliqued "Libertas Americana" medallions (1 obverse, 1 reverse), top raw edge, cut scalloped bottom edge. One patched area of previous repair. Diamond-shaped stitch holes and lines, cut threads, evidence originally quilted. Possible front or side bed valance.
H. 20.5" x 56". Two-panel construction 25.50", 30.50" lengths, center 0.25" blanket stitched seam, two cut appliqued "Libertas Americana" medallions (1 obverse, 1 reverse), top raw edge, cut scalloped bottom edge. Two patched areas of previous repair. Diamond-shaped stitch holes and lines, cut threads, evidence originally quilted. Possible front or side bed valance. - Material:
- Textile
Cotton - Dimensions:
- W-23 L-62.5 inches
- Provenance:
- Manufactured by the Oberkampf Factory, Jouy-en-Josas, France where the tern toile de Jouy originated. Designed by Jean-Baptiste Huet (1745-1811), Medallions design based on the Libertas Americana medal designed by Augustin Dupré (1748-1833) commissioned by Benjamin Franklin in 1783 for the United States.
- Credit Line:
- Gift of William L. Warren
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