Handkerchief

PeriodCirca 1806

Place MadePossibly Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

MediumCopper plate printed linen

Dimensions14 × 20.38 in. (35.6 × 51.8 cm)

ClassificationsPolitical Memorabilia

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1933

Object number399

DescriptionA handkerchief consisting of a rectangular linen panel printed in deep blue, celebrating the life of George Washington (1732 - 1799). The left side of the linen features a bold heading titled "The Love of Truth / Mark the Boy," above a scene of a man and boy (George Washington) gesturing towards a tree with an obvious notch cut into its trunk. Below the scene, an extensive verse regarding the famed "Cherry Tree" story. On the right, a second panel, this one with the heading "The Effect of Principle / Behold the Man." George Washington stands in the center, the image based upon Gilbert Stuart's famous portrait of Washington completed in 1796. to the left of Washington is an excerpt of his resignation speech, and on the right Washington's birth and death dates along with a florid tribute. Below, a sailing vessel captioned "Commercial Union," flanked by the American Eagle (at left) and the English lion (at right.) Each scene is bordered by a narrow geometric band.
Curatorial RemarksPolitical kerchiefs or handkerchiefs were popular beginning in the late 18th century and well into the 19th century. Made more for display rather than wear, the panels celebrated a variety of presidents, political campaigns, and related topics.NotesThis printed fabric panel has long been attributed to calico printer John Hewson. Born in England in 1744, Hewson emigrated and settled in Philadelphia, where he began a fabric printed business at the encouragement of Benjamin Franklin. There is some question regarding this attribution; the panel may in fact have been produced by the Germantown Printworks of Pennsylvania. Below the scene of the man and boy is an extensive poem regarding the well-known story of boyish George Washington chopping down his father's prized cherry tree. While the panel commemorates this story, and celebrates Washington's honesty, the story was actually an invention of Mason Locke Weems. "Parson" Weems, a traveling bookseller and preacher, wrote and published the first biography of George Washington immediately after the former president's death in 1799. Weems embroidered and embellished Washington's life. The "Cherry Tree" incident did not appear in Weems' biography until its fifth edition, released in 1806.

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