$102,000
Silk Needlework Picture of George and Martha Washington Strolling the Grounds of Mount Vernon, with George's Valet Billy Lee, and His Horse, executed by Mary W. Innes, Philadelphia area, dated 1820, the needlework stitched with silk and chenille threads on a silk ground with painted faces, hands, and background sky, sight size 27 3/4 x 35 1/2 in., in original ornate gilt-gesso frame with gilt inscriptions "M.W. INNES. MOUNT VERNON. 1820." on the black-painted liner. Accompanying the needlework picture is a small framed reward of merit inscribed in ink on paper: "this Certifies, That Mifs Mary Innes has excelled all the members of her clafs in orthography, during the past week, May 27, 1813. (signed) Wm. Bedlock." William Bedlock is listed amongst individuals operating private schools in Philadelphia the early part of the 19th century in Memorial History of the City of Philadelphia, from Its First Settlement to the Year 1895 Vol. II, by Howard M. Jenkins, and George O. Seilhamer, (New York History Co., 1898), p. 314. In the 1813 city directory, William J. Bedlock is listed as having a writing academy at 130 Chestnut Street. Literature: See The Magazine Antiques, February 1981, the article "Homage to Washington in needlework and prints" by Davida Tenenbaum Deutch and Betty Ring. In this article the authors write, "[many schoolgirls] fashioned silk embroideries and samplers commemorating the first president, often modeling their design after a print. Washington had bee Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2012-10-28
