Description:

US NAVY EAGLE HAND SEWN 19TH CENTURY JAPANESE TAPESTRY
Veteran sailor's Navy service souvenir silk embroidered tapestry presented in a vintage frame with glass. This extremely detailed tapestry, 27.5 in. x 23.5 in., is a combination of embroidery and quilting, all sewn into a once Navy blue silk backing tapestry (now faded to brown), with some accents, highlights, and borders hand embroidered in a silver bullion thread. Image depicts a fierce looking American eagle perched upon a canted liberty shield, and flanked by four American flags. With 34 stars appearing across all four flags and shield, it is estimated that the piece dates from between 1865-68, shortly after the Civil War. This fine piece displays the laurel branches of peace to the bottom left, and the shooting arrows of war preparation to the lower right; additionally there are thirteen large stars scattered above the depiction honoring the original colonies, each star individually embroidered, with intertwined fluttering scroll, with the Latin phrase 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' ('Out of many, one'), the traditional de facto motto of the original 13 colonies. This theme appeared on many different types of patriotic mementos until at least 1956. Some minor fading visible, with embroidery and the silk tapestry all in very fine condition. After Matthew C. Perry, the commodore of the United States Navy succeeded in the opening Japan to the West following the 1854 Convention of Kanagawa, Japan's isolation and closure to the west was over. Seaports such as Nagasaki and Yokohama opened to the trades and foreign visitors such as sailors, businessmen and missionaries. Rarely seen today, these types of embroidered artworks were produced as 'cruise souvenirs', to meet the demand of sailors from Britain and America during their service visits. Designed with a typical American theme aimed at those customers, the techniques and methods employed traditional Japanese craftmanship. This beautiful silk panel is not only a historic and patriotic American souvenir of military service, but also a great example of Japanese textile art, showcasing the methodic skills of the Japanese.

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March 27, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000