Museum Collections
Luce Center
American Centennial Ribbon
Object Number:
INV.2970
Date:
1876
Medium:
Silk
Dimensions:
Overall: 8 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. ( 21.6 x 3.8 cm )
Marks:
woven at bottom of ribbon: "T. STEVENS. COVENTRY./ ENGLAND."
Description:
White silk ribbon (bookmark) with red, blue, green and black woven motifs; Woven at top "CENTENNIAL/ 1776-1876/ PHILADELPHIA/ U.S.A." above bust portrait image of George Washington above crossed American flags with "GEORGE/ WASHINGTON" beneath; Image of Liberty bell above "And the star/ spangled banner/ O! long may it wave,/ o'er the land of/ The Free/ and the home of/ The Brave."; Image of eagle with red, white and blue shield at breast at bottom.
Gallery Label:
This ribbon commemorates the 1876 Centennial celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is a "Stevengraph" ribbon, characterized by its brightly woven motifs and text. The upside-down makers mark at the bottom of the ribbon would have originally been folded back so that the bottom of the ribbon formed a "v" where a tassle would have been attached.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.