Textile, printed

Description

This cotton textile, depicting Santa Claus in the center and small Christmas scenes in each corner, was manufactured in the late 19th century in Warwick, Rhode Island. Artist Edward Peck created the image, and it was printed by Oriental Print Works, whose name can be seen on the sled held in Santa’s left hand. Peck’s depiction of Santa Claus, shown wearing a military uniform, cavalry saber, and pocket watch, draws clear inspiration from the 1881 illustration “Merry Old Santa Claus” by political cartoonist Thomas Nast. In 1886, Peck patented a cut-a-stuff doll pattern using the same Santa image as this print. The doll pattern, also printed by Oriental Print Works, was perhaps the earliest mass-produced Santa Claus doll. Not all of the elements of this version of Santa Claus – such as his fur cap, dark jacket, or U.S. flag – are often seen in depictions of Santa Claus today, but many other elements have persisted. This printed textile is an example of the popular art that emerged in the late 19th century and helped create lasting cultural images. This object is one of a large group transferred to Winterthur from the American Textile History Museum when it closed in 2017.