$2,016
Estimate: $1,200 - $2,200
American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts
Auction: April 27, 2021 11:00:00 AM EDT
Including an enameled rondel depicting a polychrome portrait of "G. Washington" in uniform; a Berlin casting memorial brooch of Washington, engraved "F.B.F. to E.P."; and two gown fragments identified by accompanying hand-written note, "Pieces of gown worn by/ Mrs. General Cotesworth Pinckney/ when opening a ball with/ General Washington:/ she was escorted to supper/ by General Lafayette./ Mrs. C. Stuart Patterson."
Dia: 1 5/8 in. (enamel)Provenance
A Philadelphia gentleman.
Note
The source for the enameled portrait is a mezzotint engraving by C. Shepherd published in London in 1775, shortly after Washington was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the American forces. In order to take advantage of an eager market but without an actual likeness of Washington, a spurious image was created and claimed, "to have been drawn from life."
The note accompanying the dress fragments was written by Mrs. Christopher (Ellen) Stuart Patterson (1845-1915) of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.