Tuesday Treasures - July 11, 2023
This is one of the more interesting items I've found thrifting. It's also an item that had me wandering all over the Internet in search of answers. What is it? What is the image? How old is it? It also had several other people working hard to read the handwriting on the back, a note to "Earl."
The answers were found!
What is it?
A woven silk tapestry, or silk art, cushion top.
(Ignore my phone's reflection on the floor, which has also given it a spot of color that doesn't exist.)
What is the image?
"Playmates," from a painting attributed to British artist George Augustus Holmes (1852-1911).
How old is it?
1903-1904
In 1903 Taylor Mfg. in N. Y. wove this image, and this particular one was purchased at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, or St. Louis World's Fair, in 1904. It was framed and later given to Earl's mother.
Who is Earl?
I don't know.
Then why am I mentioning him?
Because his mother wrote a note to him on the back of the frame. It reads,
Earl - this picture is
made of a cushion
top, bought at the
World's Fair - 1904
given to me by a
friend of your Father
Mother
If Mother's handwriting had been better we would have known it was a cushion top earlier than we did!
The edging silk is misshapen from the century plus of being pressed against corrugated cardboard. I wish my photos showed how the silk glistens, especially where the sunlight is depicted, and the girl's dress.
That is quite the find. And kudos to whoever left the note on it. Clearly, the person who it was given to has now since passed, so they no longer need it.
ReplyDeleteYes, the note was very helpful. I might have found the date it was made, but not that it was purchased at the fair. I supposed ideally it should be reframed, but I'm leaving it as is.
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