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  STEVENSGRAPH BOOKMARK, WITH A PORTRAIT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, MADE FOR THE 1876 CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION IN PHILADELPHIA BY THOMAS STEVENS, WHO INVENTED THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THEM

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 16.75" x 7.75"
Flag Size (H x L): 10.75" x 2"
Description....:
Stevensgraph (woven silk picture), in the form of a bookmark, made as a souvenir for the 1876 Centennial International Exposition, held to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of American independence. The technology to weave these highly detailed silk textiles was developed by Thomas Stevens, a weaver in Coventry, England, who adapted a Jacquard loom to weave colorful pictures from silk. By 1862 he was producing four different designs and by the late 1880's he had approximately 900. Many were bookmarks, but there were greeting cards, postcards, and other formats.

While the vast majority of Stevensgraphs with patriotic American themes were produced in New Jersey, this one was made by Stevens' own company. "T. Stevens. Coventry." appears on the reverse.

The form is straight with a triangular wedge at the bottom and the finely executed text and imagery typical of the form. There is a prairie point border along the top, under which are the dates “1776 1876” underneath the word “Centennial,” with “U.S.A.” beneath. These appear in red, green, and violet on a field covered with yellow scrollwork. Below this is a bust portrait of George Washington, resting between crossed flags with a crown of laurel or olive branches at their apex, captioned above by the title "The Father of Our Country" in an arched format. Below Washington’s name are the words from Lighthorse Henry Lee’s eulogy, “First in Peace, First in War, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.”

At the bottom is an illustration of the Main Building at the Centennial Expo. This was the largest building in world at the time, encompassing no less than 21 acres on the interior, and was just one of the more than 200 buildings erected for the event.

Below is a spread-winged eagle perched atop a federal shield with 13 stars, flanked by a 13 star flag and 5 other international flags, under which are the date and location: “Philadelphia 1876.” The bottom of the wedge is adorned with a knotted tassel made of red silk.

  Stevens actually brought one of his massive looms to America for the Centennial Exposition and produced ribbons on site.

Mounting: The two-part frame consists of a modern, step-down profile molding with a very dark brown finish, almost black, with red undertones and highlights, to which a gold molding with a textured surface was added as a liner. The textile has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color (treated for colorfastness). Spacers keep the textile away from the glazing, which is U.V. protective glass.

Condition: Excellent.
Collector Level: Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving
Flag Type:
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1876
Latest Date of Origin: 1876
State/Affiliation:
War Association:
Price: SOLD
 

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