Art & Artifacts Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Armband, Mourning |
Collection |
Artifact collection |
Object ID |
M1975.911.1 |
Date |
1799 |
Dimension Details |
1/8" H x 3" W x 12 3/4" D |
Description |
Cream-colored silk band with initials "G.W." encircled by geometric design in center; ends are frayed, discoloration and loss throughout. |
Place Names |
Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) |
Subject Headings |
Mourning clothing & dress American Revolutionary War, 1775 - 1783 Mourning customs |
Personal and Corporate Names |
Washington, George, 1732-1799 |
Curatorial Notes |
George Washington died at his home, Mount Vernon, in Virginia, on December 14, 1799. Lauded Revolutionary War Commander-in-Chief and first president of the young United States of America, Washington's death prompted a national outpouring of grief and public mourning. Cities across the country organized ceremonies, observances, even their own mock funeral processions. As an expression of their mourning, government officials, members of the military, and everyday American mourners wore black crepe armbands for extended periods of time, ranging from four weeks to six months. In the early nineteenth century, Washington's death and "apotheosis" became a popular subject in mourning art, from needlework pictures to mourning jewelry to popular prints. This white silk ribbon, inked with Washington's initials, may have been used as a mourning band. While black was common, white silk mourning armbands are known to survive in other public collections. Unfortunately, there is no record of when this item came to LIHS, who owned it, or its history of use. It is possible it could even date to a later nineteenth-century anniversary celebration of Washington's death. |