Description:

The White House

White House upholstery swatch, handsomely presented!


Fabric swatch salvaged from early White House furnishings, with superb provenance. The swatch appears in a floating mount under a reproduction of the circa 1817 Benjamin Henry Latrobe watercolor study of the proposed South Portico of the White House, and a copy of the provenance. The overall matted size is 12" x 19.75".

 


The 6.125" square swatch is of café au lait floral damask embroidered with dusky rose, blue, teal, and olive green silk thread. Expected wear includes a few frayed edges and isolated light soiling. This fabric sample is accompanied by a copy of the provenance reading: "Scraps of upholstery from the original White House used in Dollie Madison's Time Presented by Mandie McSpeiden, July 1921, Carmas Chch, Nash. Te." The fabric eventually made its way into the collection of the Luray Museum of Luray, Virginia.

 


The White House was lavishly redecorated during the Monroe administration. British troops had set fire to the White House during the 1814 Burning of Washington, and almost all of the Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison era furnishings had been destroyed. (Notable exceptions included a full-length Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington and a silver service, both rescued by First Lady Dollie Madison (1768-1849)). The building façade had escaped most fire damage. Architects Benjamin Henry Latrobe (1764-1820) and James Hoban (1755-1831) oversaw its reconstruction and enlargement between 1815-1817, during which time the iconic North and South Porticoes were added.

 


It was in fact President Monroe, and not Dollie Madison, who was responsible for the sumptuous redecoration of the White House. The President was initially granted a $20,000 Furniture Fund by Congress with which to obtain suitable furnishings for the Executive Mansion. Monroe favored French Empire furnishings then in vogue, so the White House was decorated with some of his personal furniture, as well as by pieces acquired abroad by two American agents, Joseph Russell and John LaFarge. Russell and LaFarge greatly exceeded their allotted budget purchasing commodes, tea tables, sideboards, desks, clocks, chandeliers, china, silver plate, and elaborate mirrored centerpieces from France. Their most infamous acquisition was a 38-piece suite of drawing room furniture and accessories designed by French cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange. This fabric swatch was likely taken from one of the curtains or upholstered settees or fauteuils then purchased.

 


James Monroe wanted the new White House to be decorated with "articles of the best kind, & on the best terms" to command the world's respect for the fledgling republic, who had just won its so-called second War of Independence against the British. The fashionable furnishings impressed visitors, and greatly enhanced American prestige.

 


The fabric came from the Luray Museum of Luray, Virginia. The museum, started by town resident Mary "Mollie" Zeiler Zerkle (1845-1933), safeguarded artifacts of mostly local interest. According to family history, nineteen-year-old "Mollie" nursed Union soldiers after the 1864 Battle of New Market. She married Lemuel Zerkle, and the two lived in New Market, Virginia until 1890. That year, the family relocated to Luray, fourteen miles east across the Massanutten Mountain range, where Lemuel had secured a post as Superintendent of Luray Caverns. Local historian Daniel Vaughn reported that the museum operated between 1938-1960, after which point the collection was sold at auction.

 


Gene H. Baber of Fisherville, Virginia was an avid antique collector. His collection included everything from Civil War letters to epaulettes, from early frakturs to vintage wind-up toys.

 


Provenance: Estate of Gene H. Baber, Fishersville, Virginia; Collection of Mary "Mollie" Zeiler Zerkle and Lemuel Zerkle, Luray Museum, Luray, Virginia

 


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000