| SAILOR’S SOUVENIR EMBROIDERY FROM THE ORIENT WITH A FLYING, WARLIKE EAGLE SUPERIMPOSED ON A CANTED FEDERAL SHIELD & CROSSED AMERICAN FLAGS, BENEATH A STREAMER WITH THE LATIN MOTTO “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” INTERSPERSED WITH 13 STARS, circa 1890-1910 |
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| Web ID: | pat-734 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 29.75" x 33.25" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 19.25" x 23" |
| Description: | |
| Between roughly 1880 and 1915, American sailors visiting the orient could obtain beautiful needlework embroideries on shore, with patriotic American themes. These extraordinary works of art were acquired as mementos of a long voyage, often with the hope that they might be presented as gifts for loved ones and friends. Using silk floss and silk thread, elaborately embellished with gold metallic bullion thread and tassels, the work combines various types of decorative stitching and embroidery. Artists working the piers in port towns would create these elaborate pictures, which came in standardized designs or could be customized to the buyer's content. Executed on silk, like this example, or sometimes on velvet, the most common devices included eagles, flags, and shields. Although not present here, many contained various maritime elements. This particular example features a flying, war-like eagle, superimposed over a canted, federal shield and crossed American flags, with arrows and olive branches emerging below. This appears beneath a billowing streamer with the American motto, in Latin: "E Pluribus Unum" (out of many, one). Above this and interspersed are 13 stars to reflect the original colonies. In some cases, the age of the textile can be guessed from the star count on the flags. Here the stars merely help to provide decorative representations of the national flag. Note in particular, the glass eye of the eagle. The attention to detail is exceptional. Some of the work is trapunto-like, stuffed work, to make it three-dimensional. Mounting: The substantial, shadowbox-depth, black-painted molding is solid mahogany with a matte/satin finish. To this a silver molding was added as a liner. The 8-ply, 100% cotton mat has a beveled edge and is covered with 100% cotton twill, black in color, that was washed and treated for colorfastness. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic (Plexiglas). Condition: The background was originally blue or black. Significant fading has resulted in the present, silver coloration, which just so happens to be exceptionally beautiful. This exhibits minor to modest fabric breakdown. |
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| Video: | |
| Collector Level: | Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts |
| Flag Type: | |
| Star Count: | 13 |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1890 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1910 |
| State/Affiliation: | |
| War Association: | 1898 Spanish American War |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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