Delaware Antiques Show 2021

Unframing an object offers invaluable insight. Occasionally it can also bring unexpected surprises. When the Delaware Art Museum first acquired a needlework picture depicting two Caucasian women drinking tea (fig. 1) , the staff assumed it was European in origin. Closer inspection revealed Japanese newspapers behind the frame (fig. 2) . The new information prompted further study, and, ultimately, the object’s transfer toWinterthur, where it joined a more extensive group of silk-work embroidery. European on one side and Japanese on the other, this needlework picture presents a compelling transnational narrative, interweaving stories of traditional craft, political influence, and the legacy of Japanese aesthetics. Threads of Change: Assessing a Potential Meiji-Era Silk-work Painting By Rachael Kane Fig. 1: Needlework picture (front view). Embroidered early 20th century. Gift of Delaware Art Museum, Bequest of the Estate of Virginia M. Alexander 2021.0004 A. Fig. 2: Needlework picture (back view, with wooden stretcher and three types of visible paper). Early 20th century. Gift of Delaware Art Museum, Bequest of the Estate of Virginia M. Alexander 2021.0004 A and B. — 16 —