Norwegian-American Trapunto.

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.

ZFC Important Flag
Item is Framed

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Sources:
National War Ensign, Union Rank Flags - 1844, Flags of the World, 8 May 2012, from:
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xn-s-a03.html#1844

Oscar II 1829-1907 King, Norway and Sweden, 8 May 2012, GluedIdeas.com, from: http://gluedideas.com/content-collection/Encyclopedia-Britannica-Volume-16-Mushroom-Ozonides/Oscar-Ii-1829-1907.html

October 18th to October 25th - Yokohama, Japan, The Great White Fleet, 8 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	26.75
Length of Fly	21.75

Frame
Is it framed?	yes

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

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Crest/Emblem
Description of Crest/Emblem	Trapunto of a full achievement of Norway. On the right hand side is a stylized U.S. 12-star, 11 stripe flag, behind a Norwegian ensign (1844-1905). The left side consists of a Norwegian national flag and a stylized 12-star, 11 stripe U.S. flag. On a scroll above the arms is the motto Broder Folkens Vael.

Stitching
Comments on Stitching	Embroidered.

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
Damage	Flag contains some tarnish.
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1844-1905.