U.S. Naval Trapunto.

U.S. Naval Trapunto.
This is an embroidered U.S. naval trapunto featuring American eagle, with arrows and olive branches perched on an upright anchor flanked by a United States flag, an American shield and scroll with E Pluribus Unum, from the early 1900s.

A trapunto is a decoratively embroidered commemorative fabric. Making a trapunto involves the addition of padding behind a piece of silk, upon which elaborate designs are embroidered to create a three-dimensional image. It was not uncommon for trapuntos of the time to contain numerous patriotic symbols.

Countless trapuntos were made and sold by the George Washington Co. in Yokohama, Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their market included American soldiers and sailors stationed in the Far East during the Spanish American War, the Philippine-American War, the Boxer Rebellion and the Great White Fleet.

In this trapunto, the large anchor in the center upon which the United States flags and shield are resting clearly indicates a naval association. Since it is not personalized, it is likely that this was a stock item purchased by an American bluejacket while cruising in the Far East.
Compare with other Trapuntos in the Zaricor Flag Collection: ZFC0150, ZFC0284, ZFC0289, ZFC0742, ZFC1441, ZFC1489, ZFC2219 and ZFC2258

Exhibition History:
Special Memorial Day Display
Flags on Easels in the Moraga Room and Moraga annex
Presidio of San Francisco's Officers Club
Memorial Day 2003

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1998 from Soquel Antiques, Soquel, CA.

ZFC Important Flag
Item is Framed

Sources:

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Madaus, Howard M.- Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict, VZ Publications, Santa Cruz, 2006.

October 18th to October 25th - Yokohama, Japan, The Great White Fleet, 7 May 2012, from: http://www.greatwhitefleet.info/The_Great_White_Fleet_Japan.html

Larson, Admiral Charles R., Admiral, USN, Letter to Mr. John L. Trost, Lansaster, NY, 08/22/1996. Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	18
Length of Fly	24

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	18
Frame Length	24

Stars
Are there stars on obverse?	no
Are there stars on reverse?	no

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Silk

Stitching
Stitching	Hand

Thread
Type of Thread	Needs Analysis
Thread Material	Needs Analysis

Attachment
Method of Attachment	None

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Sided = Design on one side only

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition
Condition	Good
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	late 19th or early 20th century

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

(ZFC1441) MORAGA ROOM FLAG LABEL - Jan 2003 Trapunto Banner with U.S. Symbols Date: About 1905 Media: Silver, gold embroided on silk Comment: US Eagle, shield, and flag similar to item at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1441) in 1998 from Soquel Antiques, Soquel, CA. Special Memorial Day Display Flags on Easels in the Moraga Room and Moraga annex Presidio of San Francisco's Officers Club Memorial Day 2003 Veteran's Souvenir Trapunto Date: About 1904 - 1920 Comment: Many sailors, marines, and soldiers whose post of duty placed them in East Asia or the western Pacific Rim purchased embroidered commemorative trapunto souvenirs (from the Italian trapunta, quilt). These souvenirs usually incorporated the eagle from the U.S. coat of arms and representations of the U.S. flag. Often the Chinese dragon or other Asian symbols appeared as well. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1441) in 1998 through Soquel Antiques, Soquel, California.