Political Roses: Radical Rose?

 

In the last post we discussed Whig Roses, which seem to be

central 8-lobed florals with 8 identical rotating buds.

In her 1915 book Marie Webster told us a tale of the Radical Rose, which

she did not picture.

 Her story above is filled with the typical casual racism of her time and seems to be

making fun of old ladies who had country accents.

And it's not believable.

Has anyone ever seen a circa 1860 appliqued floral with a black center?

I'd doubt it mainly because black cotton was not really available. Dyes that gave cotton a true black were harsh, tending to rot or fade quickly. The black silk in the quilt above is an all too familiar sight in the annals of black in antique quilts. 

Attributed to Margaret Smith, Loudon County, Tennessee

I am always looking for a circa 1860 rose with some kind of black as support for Webster's story,

but so far none. Although I have a lot of great rose pictures.

Many from online auctions as the simple roses

were so popular.

Here's a pattern for the rose above---12" Finished Block.

Simple and complex