Picture

Object Name:

Picture

Object ID:

1967.017

Date:

1861-1865

Description:

Embroidery of an American eagle on cotton-backed black silk satin. Silk floss is worked in long [surface?] satin stitches, which are then couched in place with very fine strands of the same floss. The design is outlined in couched gold-wrapped thread. The ground fabric is black silk satin woven on a brown cotton base, but most of the black silk floats are worn away, leaving the brown plain-woven foundation most evident. The spread-winged eagle holds arrows in its talons, and bears a patriotic shield on his breast. A banner reading "E PLURIBUS / UNUM" is clasped in his beak. Twelve cream satin stars are embroidered at center top. Behind the eagle is an American flag on the left, and an Irish [?] flag on the right, embroidered in pale blue [now faded to mostly cream] with remnants of a harp [?} outlined in gold, and cream-colored [originally green?] clover moitfs. The embroidery is worked over paper laid on top of the satin, which provides a crisp quality to the design. The embroidery, which is said to have been taken from an 1810 Irish flag, is glued to a thin wooden base. [Cataloguer questions the accuracy of this history, as there were relatively few Irish in the United States in 1810, and the ones who were here were persecuted--why would such a flag have been made in 1810? It is more likely to be Civil War period, when a number of Irish Union regiments were created, and the American flag was viewed with more deeply felt patriotism.] Framed.

Material:

Textile
Silk

Dimensions:

H-17.6 W-20.1 inches

Provenance:

Bought in China by donor.

Credit Line:

Gift of Robert Patterson

Subjects:

Eagle, American flag