Attractive floral-embroidered apricot-colored fabric swatch salvaged from early Madison-era White House furnishings, 5.75 x 6, mounted with a photocopy of a provenance slip, reading: "Scraps of upholstery from the original White House used in Dolley Madison's time, presented by Mandie McSpeiden, July 1921, Carmas Chuch, Nash. Te." The lovely fabric swatch depicts blue-rimmed marguerites and vegetation in varying shades of cream, brown, and olive green. The overall display measures 12 x 19.75. In fine condition.
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. It was in fact President Monroe, and not Dolley 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 the French Empire furnishings then in vogue. The White House was decorated with some of Madison's 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.
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.
