Norwegian-American Trapunto.
Norwegian American Trapunto featuring the arms of Norway flanked by the Norwegian national flag and ensign and two stylized U.S flags with only 9 stars and 11 stripes. The motto on the scroll, Brader Folkenes Val, roughly translates as, "welfare to brother nations," and was chosen as a personal motto of King OSCAR II (1829-1907), king of Sweden and Norway, upon his 1873 ascension to the throne. This trapunto was made when the Kingdoms of Norway and Sweden were unified (1844 to 1905), as evidenced by the jack of the Norwegian Ensign.

A trapunto is an ornately 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 many patriotic symbols.

Many trapuntos 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 and after the Spanish American War. However, they were also popular among civilians and merchant seamen.

This example combines American and Norwegian symbols leading to speculation that it was obtained by a Norwegian-American.

Provenance: Acquired by purchase.

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