C., within the War away from 1812. Reduced well known is really what else she managed to grab together in the course of the in pretty bad shape of your own assault.
�At this late hour a wagon has been acquired, I’ve had they filled with the latest dish and most rewarding mobile posts of the home,� the original girls and you can spouse to President James Madison composed so you’re able to the woman cousin, Lucy Payne Washington Todd, within the a letter she got already been the day in advance of. This new blogs manufactured apparently provided purple-cotton velvet draperies, a gold solution and you will blue-and-gold Lowestoft asia purchased for the condition living area.
You’ll an ideal crystal flute made for James Madison of the Claude Laurent off Paris � certainly one of 20 Laurent cup flutes from the Library’s Dayton C. Miller Collection � likewise have started packed?
Laurent patented their �flute en cristal� during the 1806 inside France, effective a silver medal at Paris Industrial Exposition the same season getting his innovation. Recognized for their outlined clipped patterns and you can embellished jeweled tactics, the equipment � which happen to be functional � in the future became very popular. These were belonging to emperors, kings or other thoughts away from county, plus Madison.
It�s infamous you to Dolley Madison rescued a today-renowned portrait away from George Washington since the she escaped the latest Light Home into August twenty-four, 1814, before United kingdom troops lay flame so you’re able to Washington, D
Madison’s flute try distinctive because Laurent managed to get especially for your in honor 
of Madison’s 2nd inauguration. Their glass is themed in a manner that Laurent seems to possess set aside to possess particularly illustrious data, as well as gold joint try etched that have James Madison’s identity and you may name therefore the seasons the newest flute was developed: 1813.
The latest flute stands out among Library’s Laurent holdings: it is certainly merely a couple of created from amazingly. Very first, the 20 Laurent flutes have been named crystal. However, throughout the 5 years before, pro teams within Collection started initially to analysis brand new flutes in order to decide how to deal with worrying signs of deterioration into the her or him.
Yet , he had been as well as a lover off art work, and both James and you will Dolley Madison aided to support your and you will get your regarding scrapes
Noninvasive study of your own flutes‘ constitution having fun with X-ray fluorescence showed that 18 of your own flutes already are generated from potash glass in the place of highest-leaded glass, otherwise amazingly. People 18 glass flutes are nevertheless beloved � simply 185 Laurent mug flutes survive global today � but the crystal flutes is acutely rare.
Laurent engraved Madison’s label or other identifying informative data on the newest crystal flute he made for Madison. Images by the Shawn Miller.
It’s just not entirely clear how Madison’s flute generated the ways out of Laurent so you’re able to Madison, as the no-system to possess recording package delivery resided in early 1800s, without number of your fresh arrival of your own flute remains. We do know for sure, however, you to Madison acquired a page in French old March twenty five, 1815, asking in regards to the coming out-of �une flute dentro de Cristal de- mon invention� and you can asking whether or not Madison discovered the new flute agreeable. The brand new page try cataloged around �Laurens� inside Madison’s records � the final page from the trademark try styled that have a flourish, making it hard to understand.
Some thing we understand definitely towards flute is the fact Dolley Madison’s son out-of the girl first marriage, John Payne Todd, bequeathed this new flute to Dr. Cornelius Boyle away from Arizona, D.C., in the have a tendency to.
Cited due to the fact �the new bad guy� inside a white Household Historic Connection profile, Todd is actually noted for playing, womanizing and you will sipping � he had been jailed once or twice having unsettling the fresh peace. Seem to, will ultimately, one or even the most other bestowed the newest flute towards the Todd.