Order of Saint Stanislaus Ribbon

Date1790

MediumSilk, wood

DimensionsOverall: 3 1/2 × 55in. (8.9 × 139.7cm)

Credit LineGift of The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA

Object number2023-22

DescriptionMoire red and white silk ribbon, fastened at one end with a matching covered button. The ends of the ribbon are pinked.
Label TextLewis Littlepage was awarded the Order of Saint Stanislaus in 1790 by King Stanisław August Poniatowski of Poland. The sash was worn over the shoulder with an enameled badge that hung from the bottom. This sash is missing its original badge.

Lewis Littlepage (1762-1802) was born in New Kent County, Virginia. Littlepage attended the College of William and Mary and later served with John Jay at the Court of Spain during the American Revolution. Due to problems with debt, he served with the Spanish Army during the attack on Minorca and the Siege of Gibraltar. By 1786 he was admitted to the Court of Poland where he served as a Chamberlain to King Stanislaw II until 1795. With war raging across Europe and 2nd partition of Poland, Lewis was forced to leave the Court and finally returned home to Virginia in 1801.
ProvenanceThis garment was worn by Lewis Littlepage (1762-1802) who was born in New Kent County, Virginia. Littlepage died in 1802, leaving his small estate to his stepbrother Waller Holladay. The surviving objects passed directly through the Holladay Family until gifted to the Valentine Museum in 1952 by Mr. and Mrs. A. Randolph Holladay II. In 2022, the objects were transferred to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Upon Littlepage's death, several inventories were taken of his possessions and included "cloathes and decorations" worth $340.00.