North America, United States, ca. 19th century CE. A beautiful and striking combination of folk art and written document containing a rich delivery of American history and family lineage. The rectangular panel is constructed from three layers; the first is quilted together from over a dozen cloth pieces of various shapes and cloth types; silk, velvet, and cotton. The patchwork is sewn to a cotton backing, a white cloth dotted with black stars. The verso of that is then sewn to a white cotton panel that is written on in black ink. The text is handwritten by a member of the Custis or Lee Family. The contents includes a mixture of family history, including General George Washington’s marriage to Martha Custis, memories and musings on the American Revolutionary War, and growing up at Mount Vernon. The writer is not named, but certainly had a connection to the Custis and Lee families. This is a fascinating document and piece of folk art. Size: 34" L x 12" W (86.4 cm x 30.5 cm)

The Custis’ were descended from Martha Washington - before her marriage to the first president, George Washington, she was married to Daniel Parke Custis. Martha and Daniel Custis had four children together, and they became the stepchildren of George Washington. Mary Anna Custis was the great granddaughter of Martha Custis Washington, and married to Robert E. Lee, the general of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Quite a family tree. Regardless of the actual writer of this "letter," the contents provide a fascinating collection of thoughts and memories from someone who had first or secondhand knowledge of the Washington-Custis family history.

Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection

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#162201

Fraying and loosening of threads. Some staining and discoloration to quilted side and small tears to hems. Letter is mostly legible with some staining and smudging of ink.