Cloth Fragment

Object Name:

Cloth Fragment

Object ID:

1955.227.05

Place of Origin:

Amherst, NH

Date:

circa 1825

Description:

Textile fragment. From waistcoat worn by Luther Dana Brooks (1795-1829) in portrait (1955.227.03) painted by Zedekiah Belknap (1781-1858), May 1825. Square fragment. Weft-faced striped fancy weave of white, yellow, blue, and navy cotton and purple silk warps, with white wool wefts. Brushed surface. One selvedge edge, four unfinished raw edges. Was in envelope bearing 19th-century ink inscription, "Remnant of vest pattern, worn by Luther D. Brooks, at the time of the taking of his portrait by Zedikiah Belknap of Wethersfield, Vermont, May, 1825."

Material:

Textile
Cotton
Silk
Wool

Dimensions:

H-3.6 W-3.6 inches

Provenance:

Found in collection. Luther Dana Brooks (1795-1829), son of Isaac and Abigail Kendrick Brooks, was born in Wilton, NH, where his father was, at the time, operating a small store. In 1801 he moved with his family to Amherst where he later became a merchant. He was the cousin of US President Franklin Pierce and died unmarried at the age of 34.

The portraits may have been given by Isaac Brooks Dodge, grandson of Isaac Brooks (1757-1841), and son of Abigail Brooks Dodge (1806-1872). He was a member of the NHHS. He died at Amherst, Aug. 24, 1905. There is no mention of portraits in the inventory of his estate.

Credit Line:

Found in Collections

People:

Brooks, Luther D. (1795-1829)

Subjects:

Waistcoats, Textiles, Cotton, Silk, Stripes, Wool, Fancy weave