Patriotic “E Pluribus Unum” Eagle Silk and Metallic Embroidered Needlework

Souvenir shops were numerous in popular Japanese ports, advertising directly to the American sailors and merchants and touting souvenirs for family members and loved ones. Kimonos, tablecloths, shawls, paintings, calendars, and Christmas cards could be found alongside these patriotic embroideries. Following the earlier tradition of British and American sailor-made woolies, these later 19th century embroidered souvenirs featured many of the same design woolies motifs, including flags, eagles, boats and anchors, and patriotic mottos.

Embroidery shops in Yokohama, Nagasaki, and Tokyo produced large numbers of these needleworks. They often produced catalogs filled with popular nautical or patriotic designs, with options for sailors’ own customization, like the name of their boat, cities they had visited, and even the option to insert small photographs or portraits. With bold colors, eye-catching metallic sheen, and intricate stitching, these embroidered souvenirs were the most popular during the Great White Fleet tour of 1907-1909, but earlier examples can date to the 1890s. Many of the examples we see today are created by the George Washington Company out of Yokohama, Japan, which operated from the 1890s all the way to 1939.

CONDITION:
In very good condition. Black silk field, expertly embroidered with silk and metallic thread, in red, white, blue, black, brown, green, gold and silver. Trapunto embroidery is intact with very minimal pulls, snags, or losses. Wrinkles to silk along edges, very small scattered stains to the black silk field. Colors only slightly faded, yet metallic threads remain very bright. Embroidery measures 19″ H x 24 1/2″ W.

The embroidery is framed in a custom archival wooden frame, with UV glass. Framed Dimensions: 22 1/2″ H x 28″ W x 1 3/4″D.

Accompanied by our company’s letter of authenticity.