Important Americana: Furniture and Folk Art
Important Americana: Furniture and Folk Art
George Washington
Lot Closed
January 21, 04:20 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
George Washington
Document signed ("Go: Washington") as President of the Society of the Cincinnati, being a membership certificate for Abijah Savage, "Captain in the late Army of the United States."
Engraved broadside on vellum (15 5/8 x 21 in.), accomplished in a calligraphic clerical hand, Mount Vernon, 4 July 1786, conferring membership in the Society of the Cincinnati to Abijah Savage, "Captain in the late Army of the United States," countersigned by the Secretary of the Society ("HKnox"), engraved vignettes after a design by Pierre-Charles L'Enfant (as redrawn for engraving by Augustin-Louis La Belle), engraved by Jean-Jacques Andre Le Veau and depicting America in knight's armor trampling upon the British standard and the American eagle casting the British lion and Britannia out to sea with thunderbolts, the vignettes incorporating depictions of both sides of the medal of the Order of the Cincinnati within roundels; some light fading to the very legible signatures, a couple of tiny stains, minor chipping to lower right corner. Matted and framed in a handsome gilt frame.
A fine copy of a Society of Cincinnati membership certificate, issued on the tenth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Captain Abijah Savage (1744–1825) of Middletown, Connecticut, who had earlier served in the French and Indian War, was captured in December 1775 while a Second Lieutenant with the Fourth Company, Spencer's Regiment, during the Quebec Expedition. After being released in an exchange of prisoners, he was appointed Captain of Colonel Henry Sherburne’s Additional Continental Regiment and served in the Continental Army from February 1777 until his retirement, June 1780. (For Savage's resignation letter to General Washington, see https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-26-02-0069.)
The Order of the Cincinnati was conceived of by Henry Knox who wished to establish a fraternal organization for all officers who had served in the War for Independence and "any of their eldest male posterity." The Order was founded in early May 1783 at the headquarters of General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben at Verplanck House in Fishkill, New York. The three guiding principles of the organization were: First, "An incessant attention to preserve inviolate those exalted rights and liberties of human nature, for which they have fought and bled. …" Second, "An unalterable determination to promote and cherish between the respective States, that union and national honor so essentially necessary to their happiness, and the future dignity of the American empire." Third, "To render permanent the cordial affection subsisting among the officers. This spirit will dictate brotherly kindness in all things, and particularly, extend to the most substantial acts of beneficence, according to the ability of the Society, towards those officers and their families, who unfortunately may be under the necessity of receiving it."
The concept of using Cincinnatus as an emblem of the Order was particularly resonant with Americans since the life of this mid-fifth century Roman nobleman and farmer closely paralleled that of many who had served, with George Washington in the vanguard. Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was called upon to repel two hostile tribes that threatened Rome. He issued his orders, which were efficiently carried out, and vanquished the enemy. Although elected a dictator for six months and voted a triumph by the Senate, Cincinnatus stepped down just after fifteen days and returned to private life on his farm. Similarly, at the conclusion of hostilities, Washington returned to his plantation at Mount Vernon.