Imperial German Naval Trapunto - SMS Irene, 1911 to 1914.
This is an Imperial German naval trapunto from a crewman of the SMS Irene; a cruiser of the Imperial German Navy's East Asia Squadron in the late 1890s and early 1900s.
The trapunto is embroidered with the words Zur Erinnerung an Meine Dienstzeit, translated My Memories of My Service Time, on an elongated and stylized Imperial German commission pennant above the Imperial German arms. This sits in the midst of a stylized eagle fighting with an oriental dragon, surrounded by of the flags of (clockwise) Imperial Germany (ensign); Imperial Austria. United States; Kingdom of Spain; Japan; Republic of China; Netherlands; France; United Kingdom (Ensign); Kingdom of Italy and Imperial Germany (national flag).
Below this is an embroidered cartouche of the Imperial German cruiser SMS Irene. It is personalized to the sailor Bahne Stohrmann. Curiously it is embroidered "China, Philippines and Japan South Seas" written in English.
It is a high quality Japanese trapunto as it is an ornately embroidered commemorative piece of 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 were made and sold by the George Washington Co. in Yokohama, Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their market included soldiers and sailors stationed in the Far East from major world powers and besides this Imperial German example; American, British, Norwegian and Irish trapuntos are also known to exist.
It is similar to ZFC2428 in terms of quality.
Provenance: Acquired in 2007 by purchase in Germany.
ZFC Important Flag
Sources:
SMS Irene, Wikipedia, 10 May 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Irene
German East Asia Squadron, Wikipedia, 10 May 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_East_Asia_Squadron
October 18th to October 25th - Yokohama, Japan, The Great White Fleet, 10 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
