Collections Online

First World War embroidered panel made on a rectangle of royal blue silk stain. The proper right edge is a selvedge, the left edge has a line of running stitch using white cotton thread 4ply, Z spun, S twist sewn close to the edge, which has been trimmed. Silk warp cotton weft. The top and bottom edges are cut and have frayed. There is no backing but the threads on the reverse are flattened and stiff, in some places, stuck to the satin, it is likely that a backing was previously adhered to the embroidery. The design features a photograph, presumably of the maker (a man dressed in an army uniform from the Welsh regiment). The photograph is housed in a card frame which is covered in silk and is painted to depict a rural scene around the soldier. It is a rectangle shape with a rounded top edge, the width of the frame is 2.5cm wide. It is secured to the panel with white linen thread (4 Z plied) with a long tacking stitch, securing on each corner and in 2 places on the bottom and sides, the top edge is left open to slide the photo in. The panel is embroidered with the text ‘VICTORY FOR THE ALLIES MALTA PRESENT’ arranged in a curve across the top. The text is made in yellow silk thread (3 S spun Z plied) using long stitches to make up the letters which are couched in places with another yellow thread (4 Z spun S plied); using stem stitch where a curve is needed. There are 9 flags coming out of the frame representing the allied forces. In the centre is the Maltese flag? Which is made to look like it is in flight, shown on a curve. The others are arranged in a line (4 on each side) falling down from their flagpoles, they are layered up as if overlapping with only the American and French flags fully visible. On either side of the central flag are 2 olive branches made using green silk floss which have been. The flags are made with lines of silk floss which have been laid down to form the coloured sections and secured in a criss-cross, net like fashion, also couched from behind using a very fine 4 S plied thread. Thicker, white cotton threads are used to define the sections of colour (6 Z spun S plied), the flags and poles are made from a coiled thread probably made from paper? with a cotton core, may have been gilded but is now a coppery brown colour.

Rectangle piece of royal blue silk satin embroidered with the flags of the Allied Nations and the inscription 'VICTORY FOR THE ALLIES MALTA PRESENT' in yellow silk thread. Inset in a frame is a photograph of a private from The Welch Regiment.