Kentucky Classic #8: Whig Rose for Henry Clay

 

Kentucky Classic #8: Whig Rose by Elsie Ridgley

Mid-19th-century Kentucky politics were full of subtle and maybe not-so-subtle divisions, but nearly every Kentuckian---Whig or Democrat--- was proud of their favorite son Henry Clay who made a name for himself in the Congress of 1811 when he was called a War Hawk, advocating a fight with Great Britain.

Henry Clay (1777-1852)

He's remembered as the leading Whig in the years when the party opposed Democrat "King" Andrew Jackson and his successors. The name came from the Whig party of England, traditionally opposed to the British King. Henry Clay lived in Lexington, Fayette County. He was a perennial and unsuccessful presidential hopeful running and losing three times.

Fayette County was not far from Garrard. Clay probably

often made political appearances in Garrard.

The Block

Just what is a Whig Rose?

It's fairly loose category, a central layered red and green flower with a wide variety of floral designs in the corners. Our Whig Rose (with its green shapes north & south) was inspired by one seen in an online auction.

The pattern usually begins with a basic Rose of Sharon....

Pieced or appliqued. Vegetation might fill out the square.

Some pink in the outer flowers om this one has faded.

Whig Rose from Marguerite Ickes's 1959 

The Standard Book of Quilt Making

Additional designs can become quite elaborate and the use

of cockscombs is popular. Do cockscombs indicate a Democrat Rose?

 Roosters were the mid-19th-century symbol of the Whigs' rival?

American Museum of Folk Art Collection

Four Democrats and a Rooster

International Quilt Museum collection

Is it a Whig Rose or do those 4 green coxcombs symbolize the Democrats?

See more about Whig Roses at this recent post:

Barbara Brackman's MATERIAL CULTURE: Political Roses: Whigs & Democrats

The Whig's signature animal was the American raccoon or opossum (differences are confusing.)

Whig candidate William Henry Harrison was elected

President in 1840 with coons or possums on the roof of the old log cabin.

Just one sheet this month.

Becky Brown's Kentucky Classic medallion (with extra stuff) is

finished.

We are done with the medallion patterns 1,3,5 & 7, so no medallion pattern

this month or next.

One more block in November for the 14"/15" side by side set.

Post with the links for the patterns so far:

Civil War Quilts: Links for Kentucky Classic