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

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