Summary

Embroidered postcard sent from France, 'To my dear Sister', dated 21 April 1917.

Physical Description

Post card sent from France dated April 21st 1917. The front features an embroidered design on gauze fabric of purple flowers with green foliage and the words, in blue, "To my dear Sister". The postcard is written "To my dear Sister Eunice" with a brief note from "Clif".

Significance

Embroidered postcards from World War I are generally known as 'WW1 Silks'. They were first produced in 1914 and declined substantially from 1919; they are not found after around 1923. They were generally hand embroidered on strips of silk mesh with as many as 25 on a strip. They were mostly produced by French and Belgian women refugees who worked in their homes or refugee camps, and then sent the finished strips to factories for cutting and mounting on postcards. The postcards were very popular with British, Allied and American servicemen on duty in France. Many have patriotic themes and symbols, including the flags of Britain, France and America. It has been estimated that 10 million cards were produced.

Other sources suggests that the work was done by French women who were not necessarily refugees. 'The main themes were family remembrance; liberty, unity and right; sovenirs of France and of the war; regimental badges and crests'.

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